Looking beyond Victoza means understanding the GLP-1 class it belongs to. This guide maps how liraglutide and its neighbors work, their approved uses and side effects, the cost landscape, the compounded-pharmacy pathway, and the genetic architecture that stays constant across every alternative.

There is no FDA-approved generic liraglutide as of April 2026, yet its expiring patents place it closer to a follow-on version than any other GLP-1. This guide covers the timeline, why a compounded preparation is not a generic, and the legitimate ways to lower your cost today.

The complete history of GLP-1 drugs — from 1902 incretin research to exenatide (2005), Victoza (2010), Ozempic (2017), Rybelsus (2019), Wegovy (2021), Mounjaro (2022), Zepbound (2023), and pipeline candidates orforglipron — with where PlexusDx Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Microdose, and GLP-Squared protocols fit in 2026.