Novo Nordisk has published the results for semaglutide from a study aiming to test the treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Results from the SUSTAIN 7 trial, which investigated the efficacy and safety of 0.5 mg semaglutide compared with 0.75 mg dulaglutide and 1.0 mg semaglutide compared with 1.5 mg dulaglutide, when added to metformin, have been published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
The 40-week trial showed that people with type 2 diabetes treated with once-weekly semaglutide experienced statistically greater reductions in HbA1c and body weight compared to treatment with dulaglutide.
“It is imperative that clinical trial findings are published and made available to clinicians and the scientific community,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer at Novo Nordisk. “SUSTAIN 7 is an important head-to-head trial, demonstrating significant efficacy of once-weekly semaglutide vs dulaglutide, and we are pleased that the full manuscript is now available in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.”
“As a clinician, I know first-hand how challenging it can be to help people living with type 2 diabetes reach their treatment goals,” said Richard E. Pratley, lead author and diabetes program lead at the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes, Florida, US. “Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease and the significant glucose control and weight loss achieved with once-weekly semaglutide compared with dulaglutide are encouraging, as more treatment options are needed.”
Using the American Diabetes Association (ADA) treatment target of HbA1c below 7.0%, significantly more people treated with semaglutide compared with dulaglutide, at both dose levels, achieved the ADA treatment target (68% and 79% on 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide vs 52% and 67% on 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg dulaglutide).
Diabetes, obesity sales increased
On Thursday the company has also reported that sales within diabetes care and obesity increased by 4% to DKK 92.9 billion (($15,53B).
Operating profit increased by 1% reported in Danish kroner and by 5% in local currencies to DKK 49.0 billion. Net profit increased by 1% to DKK 38.1 billion. Diluted earnings per share increased by 3% to DKK 15.39.
Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, president and CEO: “I am pleased that we delivered on our plans for 2017 and we are continuing to build a platform for sustainable growth. The approval of Ozempic in the USA was the culmination of a year in which we achieved important product approvals and label updates. In 2018, we will focus on the global launch of Ozempic and pursue the full value potential of our strong product portfolio in what continues to be a competitive environment.”
Ozempic launching in USA
In December, Novo Nordisk received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Ozempic(semaglutide) for treatment of people with type 2 diabetes and a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) under the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommending marketing authorisation for Ozempic, expected to be launched in the USA next week.
Chairman of the Board of Directors Göran Ando has decided not to seek re-election at the Annual General Meeting in March 2018. The Board of Directors proposes current member of the Board of Directors Helge Lund to be elected as chairman of the Board of Directors.
As per 15 February 2018, Karsten Munk Knudsen, currently senior vice president of Corporate Finance, will succeed Jesper Brandgaard as chief financial officer. Jesper Brandgaard will continue as executive vice president responsible for Biopharm and Legal Affairs.
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