Another study shows benefits of adding Levemir® insulin therapy to Victoza®
San Diego, CA (June, 2011) Novo Nordisk will present data from two extension studies at the 71st Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) which show that Victoza® (liraglutide [rDNA origin] injection), taken once-daily, in combination with metformin and/or sulfonylurea, helped more patients achieve blood sugar control when compared with other commonly used type 2 diabetes therapies. Although not a weight loss product, the data also demonstrate that patients experienced significant weight loss when switched from sitagliptin to Victoza®[1],[2]

Novo Nordisk will also present data that demonstrate the addition of Levemir® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) to Victoza® and metformin helped more patients reach and maintain blood sugar targets, with a low frequency of hypoglycaemia and maintained weight loss.[3]

“The results of this study are very encouraging. Not only did Victoza® treatment alone help more than 60% of patients achieve the ADA target for blood sugar control, but also the addition of Levemir® helped many of the remaining patients achieve the ADA target without the increases in hypoglycemia and body weight normally associated with insulin therapy,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer, Novo Nordisk.

Key findings from the studies include:

Switching from exenatide to Victoza® (Poster 1117-P)1

· The majority of patients switched from exenatide to Victoza® experienced further reductions in HbA1C (0.3 – 0.8%)
· In the study, 32% of patients who failed to reach target (HbA1C <7%) with exenatide subsequently reached target with Victoza®with mean 0.8% further reductions in HbA1C

Switching from the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin to Victoza®
(Poster 1119-P)2

· Patients switched from sitagliptin to Victoza®1.2 mg and 1.8 mg experienced further reductions in HbA1C (0.2% and 0.5%, respectively 0.5%)
· More patients treated with Victoza®1.2 mg and 1.8 mg versus sitagliptin (49.2 and 50 vs. 29.5%, respectively) reached the ADA target for blood sugar control (HbA1C<7%)
· Patients switched from sitagliptin to Victoza®1.2 mg and 1.8 mg also experienced significant reductions in body weight (1.6 kg [3.5 lbs] and 2.5 kg [5.5 lbs], respectively)

Adding Levemir® to Victoza® (Oral Presentation 276-P)3

· After completing 12 weeks of treatment with Victoza®and metformin, 61% of patients reached the ADA target for blood sugar control (HbA1C <7%) with mean decreases in HbA1Cof 1.3% and body weight of 4.4 kg (9.7 lbs)
· After the additional 26 weeks, patients randomized to add on Levemir®to Victoza®and metformin had further HbA1Creductions of 0.5%, while HbA1C remained stable in the Victoza® and...