Denmark's Novo Nordisk debuts Victoza in the USA, aiming for $1 billion global sales by 2015

17 February 2010

Denmark's Novo Nordisk, the world's largest insulin maker, yesterday announced that its diabetes drug Victoza (liraglutide [rDNA origin] injection) is now available in the USA, just three weeks after gaining approval from the Food and Drug Administration (The Pharma Letter January 26).

Victoza is the first once-daily human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The cost of the drug in the USA is about $240/month for the 1.2mg treatment dose and $360/month for the 1.8mg dose, the company told The Pharma Letter.

Novo Nordisk expects Victoza to generate $1 billion in sales globally by 2015 with North America being a major driver, a spokeswoman told TPL. 'Last year, North America accounted for 36% of overall NN sales and led the company's growth driving almost half (48%) of its15% growth,' she added.

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