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Saxenda has been discontinued in Australia: what replaced it?

Why the daily liraglutide pen went, what generic liraglutide is, how it compares with weekly medicines, and its side effects.

GLP Guidebook teamPublished 12 Oct 20268 min read16 sourcesWritten from published sources

Written for Australia. Other country versions are coming.

The short answer

Novo Nordisk stopped selling Saxenda (liraglutide) in Australia after December 2025, saying it was focusing on Wegovy. Generic liraglutide pens from other companies were added to the medicines register in 2025, for the same weight-management use. No liraglutide is PBS-subsidised for weight. In trials it worked less well than weekly semaglutide.

Key takeaways

  • Saxenda, the daily liraglutide pen for weight, has not been sold in Australia since December 2025, according to the letter Novo Nordisk sent to doctors in May 2025.1
  • Six generic liraglutide pens from two companies were entered on the Australian register in March 2025 for weight management, using the same BMI criteria as Saxenda.5,6
  • In the main liraglutide trial, weight fell 8.0% over 56 weeks, against 2.6% on a dummy injection; nausea affected 39.3% on liraglutide against 13.8% on a dummy injection.3
  • In a head-to-head trial, weight fell 15.8% on weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg and 6.4% on daily liraglutide 3 mg over 68 weeks; stomach side effects affected 84.1% on semaglutide and 82.7% on liraglutide.9
  • No liraglutide medicine is subsidised on the PBS for weight, because its makers have not applied for a listing, the PBAC says.7
On this page
  1. Why was Saxenda discontinued in Australia?
  2. Is there a generic liraglutide in Australia?
  3. How is liraglutide different from Wegovy and Mounjaro?
  4. How much weight did people lose on liraglutide?
  5. What happens if you were taking Saxenda?
  6. What are the side effects of liraglutide?
  7. Questions people ask
  8. How we researched this

Why was Saxenda discontinued in Australia?

Novo Nordisk, which makes Saxenda, decided to stop supplying it here. Its May 2025 letter to doctors said Saxenda would not be available for purchase after December 2025.1

Before you go further
  • Liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide are prescription-only medicines in Australia. A doctor or other authorised prescriber decides whether any of them suits you.
  • Label facts here come from the Australian Product Information (PI), the official document each maker publishes for prescribers.
  • We don't publish medicine prices for Australia, or name where to get a medicine. The TGA treats price lists for prescription medicines as advertising unless strict rules are met.16
  • Every risk of these medicines is in Guide 5: Side effects and risks.
  • This post describes labels, decisions and trials. It is not a plan for your treatment, and no medicine guarantees any result.

The letter gave one reason. It said the decision matched the company's aim of offering its "most effective and innovative" weight treatment, Wegovy (semaglutide), which is taken once a week.1 Supply was limited during 2025 before it stopped.1

newsGP, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' news site, reported the change in December 2025. It said the company's Saxenda support website would close from 17 December.2

  • Still on the register. Saxenda is still listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), and its PI was revised in June 2026.3,4 Being on the register means it is approved, not that anyone is selling it.
  • Victoza is different. Victoza is liraglutide at lower doses for type 2 diabetes, and it is also still on the ARTG.4 This post is about the weight-management dose.
  • A note on wording. A TGA safety update from July 2026 still lists Saxenda among GLP‑1 medicines marketed in Australia.12 We go by the maker's own statement that sales ended.1

Is there a generic liraglutide in Australia?

Yes. Six generic liraglutide pens from two companies were entered on the ARTG in March 2025. They are approved for weight management with the same BMI rules as Saxenda.5,6

A generic is another company's version of the same medicine. The first three pens went on the register on 6 March 2025 and three more on 12 March 2025.4,5,6 Each holds liraglutide 6 mg per mL, the same strength as Saxenda.3,4

The approved use, in the law firm bulletins that reported the approvals, is weight management in adults with:5,6

  • a BMI of 30 or more, or
  • a BMI of 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition, such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnoea.

Two more liraglutide 6 mg per mL pens were entered on the ARTG on 3 February 2026.4 We did not check their approved uses. A register entry does not tell you whether a pharmacy stocks a product.

Not on the PBS for weight. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is the government subsidy for medicines. The PBAC, which advises on it, says the makers of liraglutide have not applied to list it for overweight or obesity.7 So any liraglutide for weight is a private prescription with no subsidy.

How is liraglutide different from Wegovy and Mounjaro?

Liraglutide is injected every day; Wegovy and Mounjaro are injected once a week. Liraglutide also has a stopping rule in its label that the other two don't have for adults.3,10,11

All three copy a gut hormone, GLP‑1, which tells the brain you are full and slows how fast the stomach empties. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) also copies a second gut hormone, GIP.11

MedicineHow oftenStarting doseTop dose for weight
Liraglutide (Saxenda and generics)Once a day0.6 mg3.0 mg, reached in weekly steps3
Semaglutide (Wegovy)Once a week0.25 mg2.4 mg after 16 weeks; 7.2 mg for some adults with a BMI of 30 or more10
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)Once a week2.5 mgUp to 15 mg, in 2.5 mg steps at least 4 weeks apart11

Doses from each Australian PI, checked 12 Oct 2026. Your prescriber sets your dose.

The 12-week rule. The liraglutide label says treatment should stop if a person has not lost at least 5% of their starting weight after 12 weeks on the 3.0 mg dose.3 For someone starting at 100 kg, that is 5 kg. The label also says the need to keep going should be checked at least once a year.3

How much weight did people lose on liraglutide?

In the main trial, about 8% of starting weight over 56 weeks, against about 3% on a dummy injection. A later head-to-head trial found weekly semaglutide roughly doubled that.3,9

How these trials work: people are split at random. One group gets a dummy injection (placebo) with no medicine in it, and everyone gets the same diet and activity advice. The gap between groups is what the medicine added. A trial average is not a promise.

SCALELiraglutide 3.0 mg daily vs dummy

3,731 adults with obesity, or overweight with high blood pressure or cholesterol, for 56 weeks. Novo Nordisk paid for the trial.3,8

Weight lost, % of starting weight

Liraglutide8.0%
Dummy injection2.6%

Liraglutide added about 5 percentage points.

STEP 8Weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg vs daily liraglutide 3 mg

338 adults without diabetes in the US, for 68 weeks. The two medicines were compared openly, so people knew which they had.9

Weight lost, % of starting weight

Semaglutide15.8%
Liraglutide6.4%
Dummy injection1.9%

Semaglutide lost about 9 percentage points more.

A worked example. For someone starting at 106 kg, the SCALE average was 8.4 kg lost on liraglutide against 2.8 kg on the dummy.8 In SCALE, 63.2% on liraglutide lost at least 5% of their weight, but so did 27.1% on the dummy.8

In STEP 8, 27.6% stopped liraglutide early for any reason, against 13.5% on semaglutide.9 Stomach side effects were about as common on both: 82.7% on liraglutide and 84.1% on semaglutide.9

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What happens if you were taking Saxenda?

Novo Nordisk asked doctors to talk with people on Saxenda about other options before supply ended.1 newsGP passed on the same advice to GPs.2

Other GLP‑1 medicines approved in Australia for weight management are generic liraglutide, Wegovy and Mounjaro.5,6,10,11 Which one, if any, is a decision for you and your prescriber. It depends on your health, your other medicines and what you can pay, since none is PBS-subsidised for weight.7

  • Same medicine, different maker. Generic liraglutide has the same active ingredient and strength as Saxenda.3,4 The pen and instructions may differ, so ask a pharmacist to show you.
  • A weekly medicine starts low. Wegovy starts at 0.25 mg and rises every 4 weeks.10 Mounjaro starts at 2.5 mg.11 We found no Australian guidance on moving straight from Saxenda to a higher weekly dose.
  • Never two at once. The Saxenda PI says it should not be used with any other GLP‑1 medicine.3

Our guide to seeing a doctor and the medicines covers the visit itself. For why Wegovy and Mounjaro are not subsidised, see Wegovy and the PBS and Mounjaro and the PBS.

What are the side effects of liraglutide?

Mostly stomach effects. In the liraglutide trials, 39.3% on liraglutide felt sick against 13.8% on a dummy injection. Stomach effects made 6.2% on liraglutide stop, against 0.8% on the dummy.3

Stomach side effects: liraglutide 3.0 mg vs dummy injection
% of people in the weight trials, Australian Saxenda PI
Australian Saxenda PI, section 4.8, checked 12 Oct 2026. Nausea became less common as treatment went on.3

So about 25 in 100 felt sick because of the medicine itself, by our arithmetic (39.3 minus 13.8). Most stomach events were mild to moderate and short-lived, the PI says.3

RisksThe risks, in brief
  • Pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas) was confirmed more often on liraglutide than on a dummy injection in the trials. The PI says it is not recommended if you have had pancreatitis.3
  • Gallstones and an inflamed gallbladder were more common on liraglutide, even after allowing for weight loss. Most people affected needed their gallbladder removed.3
  • A faster heart rate was seen in the trials. The PI says to stop if a fast resting heart rate persists.3
  • Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea has led to kidney injury in some people on GLP‑1 medicines.3
  • Sudden loss of sight (NAION) has been reported with GLP‑1 medicines, including liraglutide. The TGA says to get urgent care for any sudden vision loss.12
Full detail in Guide 5: Side effects and risks →
Get help now: call triple zero (000) if an illness is critical or life-threatening.13 For advice when you are not sure what to do, call the healthdirect nurse helpline free on 1800 022 222, 24 hours a day.13 If you think you have taken too much of a medicine, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 at any time.14 Severe stomach pain that won't go away can be a sign of pancreatitis.3 You can report a side effect to the TGA online, or ask your GP or pharmacist to report it.15

Questions people ask

Is Saxenda still available in Australia?

No. Novo Nordisk said Saxenda would not be available for purchase in Australia after December 2025.1 It is still listed on the ARTG, which means approved, not sold.4

Is there a generic Saxenda in Australia?

Yes. Six generic liraglutide pens from two companies were entered on the ARTG in March 2025 for weight management, with the same BMI rules as Saxenda.5,6

Is liraglutide on the PBS for weight loss?

No. The PBAC says the makers of liraglutide have not applied to list it for overweight or obesity.7

Is liraglutide the same as Ozempic?

No. Liraglutide and semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) are different GLP‑1 medicines. Liraglutide is injected daily; semaglutide weekly.3,10

How long can you stay on liraglutide?

The PI says to stop if you haven't lost at least 5% of your weight after 12 weeks on 3.0 mg, and to review the need for it at least yearly.3

How we researched this

On 12 Oct 2026 we read the Australian Saxenda, Wegovy and Mounjaro PIs, Novo Nordisk's May 2025 letter to doctors, newsGP's December 2025 report and the TGA's register entries for liraglutide. We read the SCALE and STEP 8 trial abstracts.

The generic approval dates and indications come from a patent law firm's bulletins; we matched the dates and product names on the ARTG. We did not open the PIs for the two pens added in February 2026. We don't publish Australian medicine prices or say where to get a medicine.

Before you move on

  • Saxenda has not been sold in Australia since December 2025.
  • Generic liraglutide pens are on the ARTG for the same weight-management use.
  • No liraglutide is PBS-subsidised for weight.
  • Weekly semaglutide lost more weight than daily liraglutide in a head-to-head trial.
Side effects and risksI'm already on itDoctor questions tool

More from the Australia blog

AUAustraliaIs Wegovy on the PBS? Who qualifies, and why it isn't listed yet AUAustraliaWhy compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide were banned in Australia AUAustraliaWegovy 7.2 mg in Australia: the higher dose explained
About GLP Guidebook

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An independent guide to GLP‑1 medicines. We don't sell medicines, take drug-company money or earn clinic commissions. Once a month: PBS decisions, TGA approvals, safety notices and recalls. How we write

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Sources

  1. Novo Nordisk Australia. Important information: discontinuation of Saxenda (liraglutide) in Australia. Letter to healthcare professionals, May 2025 ("Saxenda® will not be available for purchase in Australia after December 2025"). novonordisk.com.au (PDF)
  2. newsGP (RACGP). In Practice: Discontinuation of diabetes, obesity drug ("will no longer be available in Australia after December 2025"; SaxendaCare website closing from 17 December). 11 December 2025. racgp.org.au
  3. Novo Nordisk. Saxenda (liraglutide) Australian Product Information, revised 26 June 2026. medsinfo.com.au Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.8 and 5.1.
  4. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) search results for "liraglutide" (11 entries, including Saxenda, Victoza and eight other liraglutide 6 mg/mL pens). Checked 12 October 2026. tga.gov.au
  5. Pearce IP. Approval alert: Sun Pharma achieves first generic liraglutide approval in Australia (three pens entered on the ARTG 6 March 2025; weight-management indication). 6 March 2025. Law-firm bulletin. pearceip.law
  6. Pearce IP. Approval alert: Cipla's generic liraglutide second to be approved in Australia (three pens entered on the ARTG 12 March 2025; weight-management indication). 12 March 2025. Law-firm bulletin. pearceip.law
  7. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. PBAC advice on equitable access to GLP-1 obesity treatments (priority groups; "a slow and managed roll-out"; "As of February 2026, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advises that there are no shortages of any GLP-1 medication in Australia"). pbs.gov.au
  8. Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes). N Engl J Med 2015;373:11–22. Funded by Novo Nordisk. DOI · PMID 26132939
  9. Rubino DM, Greenway FL, Khalid U et al. Effect of weekly subcutaneous semaglutide vs daily liraglutide on body weight in adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes (STEP 8). JAMA 2022;327:138–50. Three of the nine named authors were Novo Nordisk employees. DOI · PMID 35015037
  10. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) Australian Product Information, revised 22 June 2026. medsinfo.com.au Sections 4.1 and 4.2.
  11. Eli Lilly. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Australian Product Information, version A14.0, October 2026. medsinfo.com.au Sections 4.1 and 4.2.
  12. Therapeutic Goods Administration. GLP-1 RAs and rare vision disorder (NAION). Medicine Safety Update, 23 July 2026. tga.gov.au
  13. Healthdirect Australia. How healthdirect can help you ("call triple zero (000) for an ambulance immediately"; nurse helpline 1800 022 222, 24 hours a day). healthdirect.gov.au
  14. Healthdirect Australia. Poisoning (Poisons Information Centre, 13 11 26, any time). healthdirect.gov.au
  15. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Reporting adverse events for consumers (online, or through your GP, nurse practitioner, midwife or pharmacist). Updated 2 September 2026. tga.gov.au
  16. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Applying the Advertising Code rules: price information. Updated 21 July 2026. tga.gov.au

Last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Next review due 12 Apr 2027 · Report an error

How this post was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified doctor, nurse or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write