Sanofi's GLP-1 Drug (Adlyxin / Lixisenatide): What It Is & Where It Fits Today

Sanofi's only GLP-1 drug is lixisenatide, sold as Adlyxin in the United States and Lyxumia in Europe. It is a short-acting, once-daily injection for type 2 diabetes. Sanofi pulled standalone Adlyxin from the US market in early 2023, though the insulin combination Soliqua still contains lixisenatide and remains available.

What is lixisenatide (Adlyxin / Lyxumia)?

Lixisenatide is a short-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist taken once daily by injection before a meal. Chemically it is an exendin-4 analogue, in the same family as exenatide (Byetta), rather than a human GLP-1 analogue like liraglutide or semaglutide.

Because it is short-acting, lixisenatide mainly blunts the after-meal blood sugar spike rather than providing the steady, all-day GLP-1 effect of newer weekly drugs. Its weight-loss effect is modest compared with current obesity medications. For background on the broader category, see GLP-1 diabetes drugs.

What was lixisenatide approved to treat?

Lixisenatide was approved only for type 2 diabetes, never for weight loss. The European Medicines Agency approved it as Lyxumia on January 31, 2013, and the FDA approved Adlyxin on July 27, 2016 to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes (Drugs.com).

It was always positioned as a glucose-lowering add-on, often combined with basal insulin, rather than a standalone obesity therapy.

Why did Sanofi discontinue Adlyxin in the US?

In early 2023, Sanofi stopped marketing standalone Adlyxin in the United States. The decision was a commercial one, not a safety withdrawal: the once-daily, short-acting product could not compete with newer once-weekly GLP-1s like semaglutide and dulaglutide, which offer stronger glucose and weight effects with more convenient dosing.

Lixisenatide simply lost relevance as the market shifted toward more potent, longer-acting molecules. The drug remains available in some other countries and inside the Soliqua combination.

What is Soliqua, and is it still available?

Soliqua 100/33 is a fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine (a long-acting basal insulin) and lixisenatide in a single daily injection. The FDA approved it on November 21, 2016 for adults with type 2 diabetes (Drugs.com).

Soliqua remains on the US market, so lixisenatide is still prescribed in America — just as part of a combo rather than on its own. It is a diabetes therapy and is not approved or used for weight loss.

Lixisenatide vs modern GLP-1 drugs

How does lixisenatide compare to modern GLP-1s?

Modern GLP-1 drugs outclass lixisenatide on nearly every axis that patients care about. Weekly semaglutide and tirzepatide provide continuous receptor activation, larger reductions in blood sugar, and substantial weight loss — none of which were strengths of a short-acting daily agent. See our Ozempic guide and Wegovy guide for what current standards of care look like.

In practical terms, lixisenatide is now a footnote in the GLP-1 story: historically important as an early entrant, but eclipsed by drugs that work better and dose less often.

Is Sanofi developing any new GLP-1 or weight-loss drugs?

As of mid-2026, Sanofi has no marketed obesity GLP-1 product and is not a leader in this category. The company has publicly focused its R&D elsewhere, and any future metabolic plans should be confirmed against Sanofi's official pipeline rather than assumed. For a sense of who the active players are, see our overview of the GLP-1 receptor agonist drug class.

How is lixisenatide dosed, and what are its side effects?

Lixisenatide is injected once daily within an hour before the first meal of the day, starting at a low dose and stepping up to reduce stomach upset. Its most common side effects are gastrointestinal — nausea, vomiting and diarrhea — along with headache, and a higher risk of low blood sugar when it is combined with insulin or sulfonylureas. Because it is short-acting, these effects are tied closely to mealtime dosing.

What did the ELIXA trial show?

Lixisenatide was the subject of ELIXA, one of the first large cardiovascular outcome trials for a GLP-1 drug, published in 2015. In patients with type 2 diabetes who had recently had a heart attack or unstable angina, lixisenatide proved cardiovascular-safe but did not reduce cardiovascular events versus placebo. That neutral result contrasted with later trials of semaglutide and liraglutide, which demonstrated clear cardiovascular benefit — another reason the newer agents pulled ahead.

What should patients use instead of lixisenatide?

For most people who would once have been candidates for lixisenatide, modern guidelines favor a once-weekly GLP-1 or a dual agonist. Semaglutide (Ozempic for diabetes, Wegovy for weight) and tirzepatide offer stronger glucose control and far greater weight loss with weekly dosing. Liraglutide-based options like Victoza remain a daily alternative. Any switch should be guided by a prescriber based on your goals, kidney function and insurance. Our tirzepatide vs semaglutide comparison covers the two leading molecules.

Is lixisenatide being studied for anything else?

Interestingly, lixisenatide has had a second life in neurology research. The LixiPark Phase 2 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April 2024, tested whether lixisenatide could slow early Parkinson's disease. Over 12 months, the lixisenatide group showed less worsening of motor disability than placebo on the MDS-UPDRS scale, though the effect was modest and the trial flagged gastrointestinal side effects (NEJM). This reflects broader scientific interest in GLP-1 receptors in the brain, but it is investigational only — lixisenatide is not approved for Parkinson's or any neurological condition.

Where does lixisenatide sit in the GLP-1 story today?

Lixisenatide is best understood as a transitional drug. It arrived when GLP-1 therapy still meant short-acting, mealtime injections, and it was quickly outpaced once weekly molecules and multi-receptor agonists arrived. For type 2 diabetes, it has been almost entirely supplanted; for weight loss, it was never a contender. Its main living legacy in the US is the Soliqua combination and its role as an early data point in the long arc toward today's far more effective therapies.

Can you still get lixisenatide in the US, and how?

You cannot get standalone Adlyxin in the United States anymore — Sanofi stopped supplying it in early 2023. The only way to receive lixisenatide domestically is through Soliqua 100/33, the fixed-ratio combination with insulin glargine, which a clinician can prescribe for type 2 diabetes when both a basal insulin and a GLP-1 effect are wanted in one daily injection. That said, for most patients today a prescriber is more likely to reach for a once-weekly GLP-1 or a dual agonist, which generally control blood sugar better and produce more weight loss. If you were previously on Adlyxin, do not simply stop or substitute on your own; ask your provider about an appropriate modern replacement and how to transition safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adlyxin still available in the United States?

Standalone Adlyxin was discontinued in the US in early 2023. Lixisenatide is still available domestically inside the combination product Soliqua.

Can you use lixisenatide for weight loss?

No. Lixisenatide is approved only for type 2 diabetes and was never indicated for weight management. Its weight effect is modest compared with drugs like semaglutide.

Why is lixisenatide barely used now?

It is a short-acting, once-daily injection that could not compete with more effective once-weekly GLP-1 drugs. Sanofi withdrew the standalone product for commercial reasons.

Is lixisenatide the same as semaglutide?

No. Lixisenatide is an exendin-4-based short-acting GLP-1 agonist, while semaglutide is a long-acting human GLP-1 analogue. They differ in structure, duration of action, and potency.

This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.