Victoza has spent years as the medication people got moved to, not the one they started on. When Ozempic's price or prior authorization requirements got in the way, Victoza was the older, cheaper, better-covered GLP-1 that prescribers reached for next. That's exactly what makes its current shortage sting differently than a shortage on a newer, pricier drug would. The patients depending on Victoza right now are disproportionately the ones who already couldn't absorb a jump to a $1,000-plus alternative, and many are now trying to figure out whether generic liraglutide, a savings card, or a patient assistance application is the faster path back to consistent treatment.
1. Is Victoza Really in Shortage?
Yes. ASHP's drug shortage listing for liraglutide injection confirms Novo Nordisk has brand Victoza pens on back order.
What Novo Nordisk has reported: The company has cited manufacturing delays as the reason for the shortage and has not provided a confirmed estimated release date for its Victoza pen presentations. Earlier bulletins pointed to a projected resupply window in early 2026, but that date has slipped, which is a pattern worth remembering: treat any single projected recovery date for this shortage as tentative rather than reliable.
What hasn't changed: This is a supply and manufacturing issue, not a safety recall or a decision to pull Victoza from the US market. The FDA label remains active and current. Generic liraglutide, made by separate manufacturers, is not affected by Novo Nordisk's specific production delay and has been gradually easier to find since its 2025 launch.
2. Victoza vs. Saxenda vs. Generic Liraglutide
All three contain the same active ingredient, liraglutide, but they are not interchangeable with each other, and their shortage status is different for each.
| Product | Approved Use | Typical Dose | Shortage Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoza (brand) | Type 2 diabetes | 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg daily | On backorder, no confirmed ETA |
| Saxenda (brand) | Chronic weight management | 3 mg daily | Generally available |
| Generic liraglutide (Meitheal, Teva) | Diabetes or weight management, per prescription | Matches brand dosing | Available, supply scaling up |
Don't assume these are swappable. Victoza and Saxenda are approved for different conditions at different doses, even though they share the same active ingredient. Never substitute one for the other without your prescriber's specific guidance — the dosing schedules and titration plans differ.
3. Timeline: How This Shortage Developed
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | GLP-1 class-wide demand surges as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound drive record prescribing across the category |
| Mid-2025 | Novo Nordisk reports ongoing manufacturing delays for brand Victoza; product placed on FDA/ASHP shortage status |
| Apr 2025 | Meitheal Pharmaceuticals launches the first FDA-approved generic liraglutide injection |
| Aug 2025 | Teva launches its own generic liraglutide injection, adding a second generic manufacturer |
| Late 2025 | FDA approves generic liraglutide for the weight-management indication as well, making liraglutide the first GLP-1 with generic availability for both diabetes and obesity uses |
| Early-mid 2026 | Brand Victoza remains on shortage with no confirmed resupply date; generic liraglutide supply continues scaling up |
| Jul-Aug 2026 | ASHP's shortage listing for liraglutide injection remains active for brand Victoza; Saxenda and generic liraglutide continue to be reported as generally available |
4. Why This Hits Price-Sensitive Patients Hardest
Every GLP-1 shortage gets attention, but Victoza's lands differently because of who tends to be on it and why.
Victoza has been on the market since 2010, far longer than Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound. That history means more insurance plans have settled formulary tiers for it, more prescribers default to it when a newer, pricier GLP-1 gets denied or is unaffordable, and, critically, it's one of the small number of GLP-1s Novo Nordisk includes in its Patient Assistance Program. Saxenda and Wegovy are not currently part of that program. For a patient who qualifies for free medication through the PAP specifically because they can't afford anything else, a Victoza shortage doesn't just mean inconvenience — it can mean there's no equally affordable liraglutide-class option left to fall back on until generic supply catches up.
Practical example: A patient earning close to the PAP's income threshold, uninsured, and prescribed Victoza for type 2 diabetes management, may find their approved PAP shipment delayed by the same manufacturing backorder affecting retail pharmacies. Their most realistic short-term fix often isn't waiting on Novo Nordisk's production timeline — it's asking their prescriber whether generic liraglutide, obtained through a discount card or a generic manufacturer's own savings program, can bridge the gap while the PAP and brand supply catch up.
5. Brand vs. Generic Liraglutide: Full Comparison
| Factor | Brand Victoza | Generic Liraglutide |
|---|---|---|
| Current availability | On backorder, no confirmed ETA | Available, improving supply |
| Typical cash price (30-day supply) | $1,000-$1,400 | $230-$500 |
| Manufacturer savings card | NovoCare card, as low as $25/month (commercial insurance only) | Generic manufacturers offer their own, separate savings programs |
| Patient assistance program eligibility | Included in Novo Nordisk's PAP | Not eligible for brand manufacturer PAP; use discount cards instead |
| Best option when | You qualify for the PAP or need the specific pen device you're used to | Brand is unavailable, or you want the lower cash price |
Switching to generic liraglutide
- Far lower cash price, which matters most for uninsured or underinsured patients
- Two separate manufacturers (Meitheal, Teva) mean better odds of finding stock
- FDA-confirmed bioequivalence to brand, so clinical effect should match
Staying on brand Victoza
- Currently the harder version to find, given the active backorder
- Not eligible for generic manufacturer savings programs
- Still the only liraglutide product covered by Novo Nordisk's PAP, which matters if you already qualify or are applying
6. Victoza vs. Other GLP-1s: Cost Comparison
If your prescriber is discussing alternatives while Victoza is hard to find, here's how the most common options compare on affordability, separate from clinical suitability, which only your prescriber can weigh.
| Medication | Manufacturer | Typical Cash Price | Manufacturer PAP? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic liraglutide | Meitheal / Teva | $230-$500 | No (brand PAP only) |
| Victoza (brand) | Novo Nordisk | $1,000-$1,400 | Yes |
| Rybelsus | Novo Nordisk | ~$950-$1,050 | Yes |
| Ozempic | Novo Nordisk | ~$950-$1,050 | Yes, income-restricted to 200% FPL |
| Trulicity | Eli Lilly | ~$950-$1,050 | Yes, via Lilly Cares |
For a deeper breakdown of how insulin and GLP-1 manufacturer programs compare across Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, see Refill Relay's guides to insulin savings programs and manufacturer savings cards.
7. When Will the Victoza Shortage End?
There's no confirmed end date. Novo Nordisk has said it continues investing in manufacturing capacity across its GLP-1 portfolio, but hasn't tied that investment to a specific Victoza resupply date.
Why this one may resolve differently than other shortages: Because generic liraglutide already exists and is scaling up from two manufacturers, many patients have a faster path to consistent treatment through the generic than by waiting on brand Victoza's specific manufacturing fix. That's different from a shortage where no generic exists at all and everyone is stuck waiting on one company.
Realistic expectation for the rest of 2026: brand Victoza stays inconsistent, generic liraglutide continues improving, and Saxenda remains the more reliably stocked liraglutide product for patients using it for weight management. Plan around your specific pharmacy and product, not a projected industry-wide resolution date.
8. Step-by-Step: If Your Pharmacy Is Out
Ask specifically whether generic liraglutide is available
Your pharmacy may be out of brand Victoza while having generic liraglutide from Meitheal or Teva in stock. Ask directly rather than assuming "liraglutide" is unavailable across the board.
Contact your prescriber about rewriting the prescription generically
If your prescription specifically names "Victoza," ask whether it can be rewritten as "liraglutide injection." That gives your pharmacist flexibility to dispense whichever manufacturer's product is in stock, brand or generic.
Call a few other pharmacies before assuming it's unavailable everywhere
Stock varies by pharmacy and wholesaler relationship. A nearby independent pharmacy or a different chain may have generic liraglutide or even brand Victoza in stock.
If cost, not availability, is the real barrier, check savings options now
Don't wait until you're out of medication to look into the NovoCare savings card, a generic manufacturer's savings program, or Novo Nordisk's Patient Assistance Program. Application and approval both take time.
Talk to your prescriber before switching GLP-1 classes
If neither brand nor generic liraglutide is available anywhere reasonable, your prescriber may discuss a different GLP-1 or a short-term plan. Don't make that switch on your own or skip doses to stretch a partial supply.
Don't stop your GLP-1 abruptly without medical guidance
Stopping a GLP-1 suddenly can affect blood sugar control for diabetes patients or lead to rebound effects for weight management patients. Loop in your prescriber before making any unplanned gap in treatment longer than necessary.
9. Cost & Savings Options
- NovoCare Savings Card: Can reduce brand Victoza (or Saxenda) to as low as $25 per month for eligible commercially insured patients. Not valid for Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare.
- Generic manufacturer savings programs: Some generic liraglutide manufacturers, including Teva, offer their own savings programs that can bring the generic price down further for eligible patients.
- Discount cards: Free cards compared in our Inside Rx vs. SingleCare breakdown and reviewed in our Inside Rx review can lower cash prices on generic liraglutide regardless of insurance status.
- Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program (PAP): Provides free brand Victoza for up to one year, renewable, to eligible uninsured or Medicare patients who meet income requirements. Covered in detail below.
- Broader assistance search: Refill Relay's guide to prescription assistance programs and our explainer on how patient assistance programs work cover options beyond Novo Nordisk's own program.
10. NovoCare Patient Assistance Program: Eligibility & Income Limits
Novo Nordisk's PAP provides free medication, including Victoza, to qualifying patients. The rules are specific, and getting them wrong is one of the most common reasons applications get delayed.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Insurance status | Must have Medicare or no insurance. Patients with private or commercial insurance are not eligible for the PAP (use the savings card instead) |
| Income limit for Victoza | Total household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level |
| Income limit for Ozempic specifically | Total household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (lower than most other covered medications) |
| Other government programs | Must not be enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid, Medicare Extra Help (LIS), or VA benefits; if eligible, must submit a denial letter |
| Medicare beneficiaries under 150% FPL | Must first apply for and be denied Medicare Part D Extra Help before qualifying for the PAP |
| Documentation | Proof of income (tax transcript, benefit letter, or recent pay stub) and prescriber-completed application sections |
Where income limits come from: Federal poverty level figures are published and updated federally, and NeedyMeds maintains a current, easy-to-read FPL guideline chart that Novo Nordisk directs applicants to use. Because these figures are updated periodically, confirm the current year's numbers before assuming you do or don't qualify.
11. Covered Medications Comparison
Not every Novo Nordisk GLP-1 is covered by the PAP, and this distinction matters a lot for anyone comparing Victoza to newer, trendier options.
| Medication | Indication | Covered by PAP? |
|---|---|---|
| Victoza | Type 2 diabetes | Yes |
| Ozempic | Type 2 diabetes | Yes, with a lower 200% FPL income limit |
| Rybelsus | Type 2 diabetes | Yes |
| Novo Nordisk insulins | Diabetes | Yes, via related insulin affordability programs |
| Saxenda | Weight management | Not currently covered |
| Wegovy | Weight management | Not currently covered |
This is exactly why Victoza's shortage carries extra weight for financially eligible patients: it's one of the few liraglutide-class, PAP-covered options left standing while brand supply catches up.
12. Application Process, Approval Timelines & Renewal
Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program
- Apply: Online through NovoCare.com, or by calling 1-866-310-7549. Your prescriber's office typically needs to complete a clinical section of the application.
- Documentation: Proof of income (tax transcript, Social Security benefit letter, or recent pay stub) and, if applicable, a denial letter from Medicaid or Medicare Extra Help.
- Timeline: Processing time varies; incomplete applications are the most common cause of delay, so confirm every required document is included before submitting.
- Renewal: Approved patients typically receive free medication for up to one year and must reapply to continue receiving assistance after that period. Medicare Part D enrollees who qualify must stay enrolled in the program through the end of the calendar year once approved.
NovoCare Savings Card
- Apply: Sign up online; no income documentation required.
- Timeline: Instant. Present the card at a participating pharmacy with a valid prescription.
- Renewal: Card terms and annual maximums typically reset each calendar year; confirm current terms since they can change.
13. Common Mistakes That Delay Access
- Assuming a Victoza-specific prescription can't be filled with the generic. Ask your prescriber to rewrite it generically if brand is unavailable.
- Trying to use the NovoCare savings card with Medicare or Medicaid. It won't process; use the PAP instead.
- Applying for the PAP while carrying commercial insurance. Commercially insured patients aren't eligible for the PAP and should use the savings card route instead.
- Confusing the EU discontinuation news with US availability. Novo Nordisk's decision to stop marketing Victoza in the EU/EEA by the end of 2026 doesn't apply to the US market.
- Submitting an incomplete PAP application. Missing income documentation or an incomplete prescriber section is the most common reason for processing delays.
- Assuming Saxenda and Victoza are interchangeable because they share an active ingredient. They're approved for different conditions at different doses and require separate prescriptions.
14. Decision Tree: What Should You Do Right Now?
Ask about a different GLP-1, a short-term plan, or expanding your pharmacy search radius. If cost is the real driver, start a NovoCare savings card or Patient Assistance Program application now rather than waiting. Don't stop your medication abruptly without medical guidance.
Related: What Is a Patient Assistance Program? 2026 Guide
If you're new to manufacturer patient assistance programs, this walks through how they generally work before you dive into NovoCare's specific requirements.