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Diabetes care Liraglutide<br />
liraglutide<br />
– key to<br />
future growth<br />
Diabetes is a demanding condition. It requires constant<br />
attention and measuring of blood sugar levels. And with<br />
type 2 diabetes being a progressive disease, too many<br />
patients never reach an acceptable level of control of their<br />
diabetes. The consequence is debilitating and expensive<br />
late complications.<br />
Liraglutide, <strong>Novo</strong> <strong>Nordisk</strong>’s once-daily human analogue of the<br />
naturally occurring hormone Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-<br />
1), is a compound being developed for the treatment of type<br />
2 diabetes. GLP-1 works by stimulating the release of insulin<br />
only when glucose levels become too high, and by decreasing<br />
appetite. The effect can be described as enhancing the function<br />
of ‘tired’ or worn-out insulin-producing cells. Liraglutide<br />
is being studied as a once-daily product that may be administered<br />
any time of day. Because of the mechanism of action,<br />
glucose monitoring may not be necessary.<br />
In contrast to some other antidiabetic treatments, liraglutide<br />
may also lead to weight loss instead of weight gain. It is<br />
being studied for its potential as a therapeutic option in earlystage<br />
diabetes.<br />
In <strong>2007</strong>, <strong>Novo</strong> <strong>Nordisk</strong> concluded phase 3 studies of<br />
liraglutide. The LEAD TM programme – Liraglutide Effect and<br />
Action in Diabetes – is the largest and most complex set of<br />
clinical trials <strong>Novo</strong> <strong>Nordisk</strong> has ever undertaken for a diabetes<br />
product. As one of the most important products in <strong>Novo</strong><br />
<strong>Nordisk</strong>’s pipeline, liraglutide is critical to drive the future<br />
growth of the company.<br />
3,992<br />
persons participated<br />
in <strong>Novo</strong> <strong>Nordisk</strong>'s<br />
LEAD TM phase 3<br />
programme.<br />
300<br />
million people in<br />
the world are obese,<br />
according to the<br />
World Health<br />
Organization.<br />
“We are very pleased with the clinical results. The phase 3<br />
studies have investigated the use of liraglutide throughout<br />
the progressive stages of diabetes: from early diagnosis where<br />
oral agents are used to intensified insulin therapy. In these<br />
studies, reduction in HbA 1c and body weight were mea sured,”<br />
says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, chief science officer. The level<br />
of HbA 1c reflects the average blood glucose level over the<br />
past two to three months, and a decrease is therefore considered<br />
a measure of treatment effect. The American Diabetes<br />
Association recommends a treatment goal of HbA 1c
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