New results from Phase III trial of Victoza in T2D-Novo Nordisk

New data from the Phase IIIa SCALE Diabetes trial investigating the effect of Victoza (liraglutide), from Novo Nordisk, in adults with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes demonstrated that at 56 weeks, in addition to clinically meaningful weight loss, treatment with liraglutide 3 mg provided statistically significantly greater improvements in risk factors for cardiovascular disease, compared with placebo, in combination with diet and physical activity. All treatment groups followed a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity programme.

At 56 weeks of treatment, the SCALE trial demonstrated that adults treated with liraglutide 3 mg achieved significantly greater mean weight loss of 5.9% compared with 2.0% with placebo. The 3.0 mg dose also produced more weight loss than liraglutide 1.8 mg. Waist circumference was also significantly reduced with both liraglutide 3 mg (-6.0 cm) and liraglutide 1.8 mg(-4.9 cm), compared with placebo (-2.8 cm). Liraglutide also significantly improved levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) by -27% and -25% compared with placebo. CRP is elevated in people with obesity and is a good predictor of CV disease.

The most frequently reported side effects were gastrointestinal disorders (driven by nausea and diarrhoea), and occurred in 65% of people treated with liraglutide 3 mg compared with 56% with liraglutide 1.8 mg and 39% with placebo. The most common adverse events occurring in more than 5% of people treated with liraglutide 3 mg included hypoglycaemia, decreased appetite and abdominal distension. Data were presented at the International Congress of Endocrinology (ICE) and the Endocrine Society's meeting.