Novo Nordisk's Victoza helps patients achieve blood-sugar control when switching from exenatide or sitagliptin

SAN DIEGO — Novo Nordisk unveiled data from two extension studies at the 71st annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego that show its diabetes drug, when combined with other medications, may help patients achieve blood-sugar control.

The drug maker found that combining Victoza (liraglutide [rDNA origin] injection) with metformin and/or sulfonylurea helped patients achieve blood-sugar control.

Additionally, Novo Nordisk also presented data that showed that the addition of Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) to Victoza and metformin helped patients reach and maintain blood sugar targets. The results also showed a low frequency of hypoglycemia and maintained weight loss among patients.

Both switch trials were extensions of randomized, open-label studies that compared the efficacy and safety of Victoza in 1.2-mg and/or 1.8-mg strengths, taken once daily, with twice-daily exenatide (10 μg) or sitagliptin (100 mg), all in combination with metformin and/or sulfonylurea.

“The results ... are 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,” Novo Nordisk EVP and chief science officer Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen said.