Victoza®, a revolutionary new treatment for type 2 diabetes that not only 1)helps in effective blood sugar control 2) reduces weight 3) reduces systolic blood pressure and 4) improves functioning of beta cells, is now available in India.
Novo Nordisk’s Victoza® (liraglutide), a new way of treating type 2 diabetes, was launched today. Victoza®, the first human Glucagon-Like-Peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, was approved in Jan 2010 by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults.
Victoza® has been proven to lower not only blood sugar but also body weight and systolic blood pressure more effectively than other diabetes therapies in people with type 2 diabetes. In addition, Victoza® has a low risk of hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood sugar levels), since Victoza® only works when there is excess blood sugar.1-6
"Type 2 diabetes often coexists with other high-risk conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity which add to cardiovascular risk factors. Liraglutide provides the answer for people to control diabetes and reduce risk factors” says Prof. Prasanna Kumar Professor of Endocrinology & Metabolism at MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore.
“The launch of Victoza® means a major advancement in the treatment of type 2 diabetes” says Melvin D’souza, MD Novo Nordisk India. “India has almost 50.8 million people affected by the disease, of which almost 95% are people with Type 2 diabetes and Victoza can be a significant treatment option for these patients. This approval reaffirms our commitment to making safe and effective drugs that make a real difference to the lives of people with diabetes.”
Type 2 diabetes costs in India amount to almost 2.1% of the GDP. The bulk of this cost comes from hospitalisations due to the serious complications of poor blood sugar control. These include heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputation.
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About Victoza®
Victoza® works by stimulating the release of insulin only when blood sugar levels are high. Weight loss with liraglutide is attributed to the fact that it slows transit of food from stomach to small intestine and leads to increased satiety after meals. Liraglutide is naturally broken down in the body and does not require renal excretion.
Safety and Efficacy: Victoza® has been extensively investigated in a clinical trial programme involving more than 6,500 people from over 40 countries, of which almost 10% were from India. In the phase 3 LEAD™ (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes) trials, Victoza® was consistently better than commonly-used diabetes therapies such as glimepiride and rosiglitazone, insulin glargine and exenatide at lowering blood sugar levels, while at the same time leading to reductions in body weight and systolic blood pressure and improvements in the function of the insulin-producing beta cells in the body1-6. Victoza® is also associated with a low risk of hypoglycaemia.
For more information on Victoza®, visit novonordisk.com – Media – Victoza press room.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 27,900 employees in 81 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk’s ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘NVO’. For more information, visit novonordisk.com.