ADA 2014: New data on Novo Nordisk's IDegLira and Victoza

A new Phase IIIa study shows that IDegLira, the once-daily single injection combination of Danish diabetes care giant Novo Nordisk’s (NOV: N) insulin degludec (IDeg) Tresiba and liraglutide (Victoza) for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes, maintained its glucose-lowering effect and safety profile for up to one year.

Findings from the 26-week extension of the DUAL I study were presented on Saturday at the 74thAnnual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in San Francisco, California. Novo Nordisk filed for European approval of IDegLira, which is seen to have the potential to become a breakthrough in type 2 diabetes treatment, last year.

“The new DUAL I extension data presented at ADA in San Francisco support the sustainability of IDegLira, demonstrating that the efficacy benefits and safety profile of this novel treatment are maintained over a period of at least one year of use in adults with type 2 diabetes,” said Kamlesh Khunti from the Diabetes Research Centre University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, UK. “These reassuring data reinforce the potential this novel once-daily therapy has to considerably improve patient care,” Prof Khunti added.

At the end of the trial, the IDegLira treatment group observed a mean weight reduction of 0.4kg, which was consistent with the first 26 weeks of treatment.The estimated treatment difference between IDegLira and IDeg was -2.8kg and the relative treatment difference between IDegLira and liraglutide was 2.7kg.The daily insulin dose for patients on IDegLira was 37% lower (39 units) compared with IDeg (62 units). Patients treated with IDegLira had a 37% lower rate of hypoglycemia versus IDeg, however, the rate of hypoglycaemia was higher versus liraglutide.