- Teva Pharmaceuticals is launching the first-ever generic GLP-1 drug in the United States.
- Victoza, originally approved by the FDA in 2010 for diabetes, is part of the same class of drugs that includes Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound.
- Experts say they welcome the generic formulation but expressed concerns about price and effectiveness.
Teva Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of a generic form of Victoza (liraglutide), the first-ever generic GLP-1 drug to be made available in the United States.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (otherwise known as GLP-1s or GLP-1 RAs) are a class of incretin drugs that mimic the body’s natural hormones to help treat diabetes and obesity. Other blockbuster drugs in this class include semaglutide (sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound.
The latter is considered a “dual agonist” because it activates two receptors: GLP-1 and GIP.
The drugs have proven to be exceptionally effective, particularly for weight loss, with some patients losing up to 25% of their body weight. They’ve also been shown to have many other beneficial effects, including lowering A1C and improving cardiovascular outcomes.
However, the popularity of the drugs has spiraled out of control at times, leading to shortages and supply chain issues in the US and abroad. The common practice of using diabetes medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro “off label” for cosmetic weight loss has led to some diabetes patients being forced to ration their supplies or switch drugs entirely.
“By launching an authorized generic for Victoza, we are providing patients with type 2 diabetes another option for this important treatment…We are providing the first generic GLP-1 product to the US marketplace, demonstrating once again our ability to sustain a generics powerhouse,” Ernie Richardsen, a Senior Vice President of Teva Pharmaceuticals, said in a statement.
The arrival of a GLP-1 generic drug provides reasons to be hopeful for doctors and patients alike, but there are also caveats.
How doctors are reacting to Teva’s announcement
Dr. Caroline Apovian, MD, a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told Healthline that the approval was “another step in the right direction.”
But, she quickly followed that with some immediate concerns about cost.
“My big question for Teva is how much are you going to charge for it?” she said.
Dr. Sun Kim, MD, an Associate Professor of Endocrinology at Stanford Medicine, told Healthline that while she’s excited about an additional treatment option, she also has concerns.
“The prices that I have seen for Teva’s liraglutide are high, especially given that liraglutide is injected once daily (vs. weekly) and generally inferior to higher doses of liraglutide and tripeptide weekly,” she told Healthline.
Healthline contacted Teva about the cost of their generic but did not receive a response.
According to The Guardian, the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) of the generic will be 13.6% lower than Victoza.
A two-pack of injection pens is estimated to cost around $470, while a three-pack will cost around $700. A spokesperson for Teva told The Guardian that “WAC pricing does not account for the price discounts offered to customers and is not reflective of our final net price.”
How effective is Victoza compared to other GLP-1 drugs?
Another notable issue pointed out by experts is that Victoza isn’t as effective as novel GLP-1s. The FDA originally approved Victoza for diabetes in 2010, followed by Saxenda (also liraglutide) for obesity in 2014.
“I think no one would dispute that liraglutide, while effective for lowering glucose and weight, is inferior to higher doses of semaglutide and tirzepatide,” said Kim.
Head-to-head clinical trials have consistently demonstrated that the latest batch of GLP-1 drugs perform better.
The STEP 8 randomized clinical trial compared semaglutide and liraglutide and found that patients taking semaglutide lost significantly more weight (15%) than those taking liraglutide (6%).
Tirzepatide has proven even more effective in a clinical trial, with patients losing 20% of their body weight.
The SUSTAIN 10 trial, another head-to-head trial between semaglutide and liraglutide, found that while both lowered A1C, semaglutide had better results, resulting in a decrease of 1.7% compared to 1% for liraglutide.
While shortages of other GLP-1 drugs remain, Teva’s generic Victoza is a welcome addition to the market.
However, for some patients, the price tag and lower effectiveness compared to novel agents could remain a barrier for many.
The bottom line
The first-ever generic GLP-1 drug is being launched in the United States by Teva Pharmaceuticals.
GLP-1 drugs, which include the blockbuster diabetes and obesity medications Wegovy and Zepbound, are touted for their effectiveness but are expensive and often in short supply.
Experts told Healthline that while they welcome the generic GLP-1, they still have concerns about its cost and overall effectiveness compared to newer GLP-1 drugs.
