Cipla launches generic weight-loss drug
Cipla USA has launched a generic version of Saxenda® (Liraglutide injection) for weight management therapy. The launch comes after its partner Orbicular received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The move introduces competition in the popular market for injectable weight-loss treatments.
The original drug, Saxenda, was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on December 23, 2014. Its active ingredient, liraglutide, was initially approved in 2010 at a lower dose under the brand name Victoza for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that works by mimicking a hormone that targets areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation, leading to reduced hunger. The medication also slows the process of stomach emptying, which helps people feel fuller for longer after eating. In a key 56-week clinical trial, patients taking Saxenda combined with diet and exercise lost an average of 8% of their body weight, compared to 2.6% for the placebo group. In that same study, 63.2% of people taking Saxenda lost at least 5% of their body weight, and 33.1% lost more than 10%. The generic launch puts pressure on a booming weight-loss drug market dominated by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Saxenda and Wegovy, and Eli Lilly, which manufactures Zepbound. Novo Nordisk's obesity drug sales, comprising Saxenda and Wegovy, saw a 57% increase at constant exchange rates in 2024. A major factor for patients is cost, as a monthly supply of brand-name Saxenda can have a list price of over $1,300 without insurance. Generic drugs are typically less expensive, though the initial cost of generic liraglutide for weight management may only be slightly lower than its brand-name counterpart. Unlike newer weekly weight-loss injections such as Wegovy and Zepbound, liraglutide is administered as a once-daily injection.
