What is the difference between Soliqua and Xultophy?
Both products combine a long-acting insulin with a GLP-1 agonist – Xultopy brings together Tresiba (insulin degludec) and Victoza (liraglutide), while Soliqua combines Lantus (insulin glargine) with Adlyxin (lixisenatide).
Soliqua 100/33 is Sanofi’s once-daily injection used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults type 2 diabetes. Soliqua 100/33 is a combination of insulin glargine 100 Units/mL (Lantus), a long-acting insulin, and lixisenatide 33 mcg/mL (Adlyxin), a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist.
Xultophy 100/3.6 is Novo Nordisk’s once-daily injection of insulin degludec 100 Units/mL (Tresiba), and the GLP-1 agonist liraglutide 3.6 mg/mL (Victoza), also used to treat type 2 diabetes in conjunction with diet and exercise. Insulin degludec is a long-acting insulin and liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist.
These two medications, available as injection pens, were the first approved in a novel group of type 2 diabetes treatments that combine a long-acting insulin with a GLP-1 agonist. They are not approved for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. These drugs are often used after other diabetes medications have been tried without success.
Long-acting insulins start working several hours after injection and continue to work steadily for 24 hours. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are similar to a hormone that occurs naturally in the body and helps to control blood sugar, insulin levels, and digestion. GLP-1 agonists may help you to lose weight.
GLP-1 agonists approved in the U.S. include:
- albiglutide (Tanzeum)
- dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- exenatide extended-release (Bydureon BCise)
- exenatide (Byetta)
- liraglutide (Victoza)
- lixisenatide (Adlyxin)
- semaglutide (Ozempic)
- semaglutide (Rybelsus)
All agents are given by injection except for Rybelsus from Novo Nordisk, the first oral GLP-1 agonist, approved in September 2019.
This is not all the information you need to know about Xultophy or Soliqua for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full product information, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
Related questions
- Which GLP-1 drug is best for weight loss?
- How and where do you inject liraglutide?
- Can liraglutide be used for weight loss?
References
- Soliqua 100/33 (insulin glargine and lixisenatide injection), for subcutaneous use. [product information]. Accessed March 18, 2021 at https://products.sanofi.us/Soliqua100-33/Soliqua100-33.pdf
- Xultophy 100/3.6 (insulin degludec and liraglutide injection), for subcutaneous use. [product information]. Accessed March 18, 2021 at https://www.novo-pi.com/xultophy10036.pdf
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