Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc. has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the first generic GLP-1 medication for weight loss, the Parsippany-based company announced Aug. 28. 

The pharmaceutical firm simultaneously announced the U.S. launch of the drug, which is a generic version of Saxenda (liraglutide injection).

According to Reuters, Saxenda is Novo Nordisk‘s older weight-loss drug, which results in less weight loss on average than Novo’s Wegovy medication. 

Saxenda had annual sales of $165 million as of June 2025, Teva added. 

“With this approval, and by launching a generic for Saxenda (liraglutide injection), we will provide patients in the U.S. the first ever generic GLP-1 product specifically indicated for weight loss,” Ernie Richardsen, senior vice president, head of U.S. Commercial Generics at Teva, said in a statement.  

Richardsen noted this was the “fifth first-to-market entry of a Teva generic this year.” 

Liraglutide injection is indicated for patients age 12 and older diagnosed with obesity. It is to be used in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and exercise, according to Teva. 

According to Fierce Pharma, Saxenda is not the first GLP-1 drug available as a generic, noting that last June Teva launched a knockoff version of Novo Nordisk’s Type 2 diabetes drug Victoza.

Continued battle

Novo Nordisk has faced numerous legal battles over copycat versions of its more popular weight-loss medication, Wegovy, as well as Ozempic, a GLP-1 approved for patients with Type 2 diabetes.

In June, the Danish drugmaker – which has its U.S. headquarters in Plainsboro – ended a partnership with Hims & Hers over claims the company sold copycat versions of Wegovy.

Teva Pharmaceuticals is a U.S. affiliate of Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.