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Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications have gained widespread popularity for weight loss and diabetes control in recent years — but the spike in demand has made it difficult for some people to get the drugs.
To help eliminate supply chain snafus, the first-ever generic GLP-1 — a duplicate of Victoza — launched on June 25.
Manufactured by Novo Nordisk and distributed and sold by Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals, Victoza is an injectable medication intended to treat type 2 diabetes. It has also been shown to promote weight loss in certain patients, according to Teva.
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While Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide and Mounjaro has tirzepatide, Victoza has liraglutide as its active ingredient.
« By launching an authorized generic for Victoza (liraglutide injection 1.8mg), we are providing patients with type 2 diabetes another option for this important treatment, » said Ernie Richardsen, SVP, head of U.S. commercial generics at Teva, in a press release from the company.
![Victoza generic](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/victoza-generic.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The first-ever generic GLP-1, a version of Teva Pharmaceuticals’ Victoza, launched in late June 2024. (iStock; Getty Images)
The new authorized generic is the exact same medication as brand-name Victoza, but without the brand name on the label and sold at a lower price point, explained Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, the senior director of Pharmacy Content at GoodRx in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Just as Wegovy is a higher-dose version of Ozempic to treat obesity, there is a higher-dose version of Victoza — sold under the brand name Saxenda — but a generic version is not yet available.
« This is a positive step forward to making GLP-1 agonist medications more accessible and affordable, » Billingsley told Fox News Digital via email.
![Victoza](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/victoza.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Victoza is manufactured by Novo Nordisk and distributed and sold by Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals. (Getty Images)
This class of drugs has a growing list of beneficial applications beyond just treating type 2 diabetes, Billingsley noted, but their cost can be a barrier for many people to access them.
« In general, authorized generics are usually priced at a discount, potentially making them a more affordable option for some people, » she said.
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« However, some insurers may still prefer brand-name Victoza, even with a lower-cost authorized generic available. »
Patients should check with their insurance provider to confirm which options are covered and what they can expect to pay, Billingsley advised.
![Close-up of Ozempic pens and person injecting needle in background](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/ozempic-pens-injection.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
This class of drugs has a growing list of benefits, but cost can be a barrier for some patients. (iStock)
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, agreed that the availability of the first generic GLP-1 is « great news. »
The generic’s lower price point is particularly beneficial for people who have chronic conditions like diabetes, Osborn noted — « where long-term medication use is necessary to prevent downrange effects like vascular disease, strokes and heart attacks, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and obesity, the latter of which is also a ‘gateway disease,’ » he said.
Differences between liraglutide and semaglutide
There are some differences between the generic version of Victoza and Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists, doctors noted.
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The new drug’s active ingredient is liraglutide instead of Ozempic’s semaglutide — and it is approved for use in both adults and children age 10 and older who have diabetes.
Semaglutides are not yet approved for children.
![Weight loss injection](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/03/1200/675/weight-loss-injection.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
While semaglutides like Ozempic are given once each week, liraglutide medications require daily dosing because they have a shorter half-life. (iStock)
There are also dosing differences — while semaglutides like Ozempic are given once each week, liraglutide medications require daily dosing because they have a shorter half-life, the doctor said.
« Each medication has pros and cons, » Osborn said. « At base level, however, the molecules are similar and subserve identical bodily functions — appetite suppression and the promotion of insulin secretion from the pancreas. »
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The most common side effects of liraglutides include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, indigestion and constipation, according to the company’s release. Other, more serious side effects are possible.
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Patients who experience adverse or lingering side effects should see a health care provider.
Fox News Digital reached out to Teva Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk for comment.