Victoza Vs. Zepbound: Drug Comparison

Victoza^® (liraglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. It works as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon release, and slowing gastric emptying to lower blood sugar levels. Victoza is also indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death,] in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and headache. It should be used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis​.

Zepbound^® (tirzepatide) is an injectable medication approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight who have at least one weight-related condition. It works by activating both glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) hormone receptors, which help reduce appetite and food intake. It is taken once a week as an injection and is gradually increased over time to achieve effective weight loss results. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, with more serious risks like thyroid tumors and pancreatitis necessitating careful patient screening. This medication should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for best results.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Victoza (liraglutide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of:

  • 30 kg/m² or greater (obesity) or

  • 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease)

• Typically taken as an injection once daily

• Comes in single-patient-use pens that deliver 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg per injection

• Typically taken as an injection once weekly

• Comes in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg per 0.5 mL single-dose pens or single-dose vials

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) in clinical trials are:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Decreased appetite

• Indigestion

• Constipation

Immunogenicity-related events, including hives, were more common among Victoza-treated patients (0.8%) than among comparator-treated patients (0.4%) in clinical trials

The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with Zepbound are:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Abdominal pain

• Indigestion

• Injection site reactions

• Fatigue

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Belching

• Hair loss

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn)

• Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

• Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any of the excipients in Victoza

• Drug interactions: Victoza delays gastric emptying and may impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

• Known serious hypersensitivity to tirzepatide or any of the excipients in Zepbound

• Drug interactions: Zepbound delays gastric emptying and has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• Pancreatitis

• Never share a Victoza pen between patients, even if the needle is changed

• Low blood sugar: Adult patients taking an insulin secretagogue or insulin may have an increased risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

• Acute kidney injury

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Pregnancy: Victoza should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus

• Severe gastrointestinal disease

• Acute kidney injury

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Acute pancreatitis

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Low blood sugar: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

• Diabetic retinopathy complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Suicidal behavior and ideation

• Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm. When pregnancy is recognized, discontinue Zepbound

• Females of reproductive potential: Females using oral contraceptives should consider switching to a non-oral contraceptive method or add a barrier method of contraception for 4 weeks after initiation and for 4 weeks after each dose escalation

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether Victoza causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Victoza is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and the symptoms of thyroid tumors.

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

In rats, tirzepatide causes thyroid C-cell tumors. It is unknown whether Zepbound causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of tirzepatide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Zepbound is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and symptoms of thyroid tumors.

*This information is from the label for brand name Victoza^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Victoza, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient liraglutide.

*This information is from the label for brand name Zepbound^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient tirzepatide.