EASD 2014: Novo Nordisk updates on Ryzodeg, Tresiba and Xultophy

The global burden of diabetes is growing fast with an astonishing 10% of global healthcare expense spent on diabetes. Danish diabetes care giant Novo Nordisk (NOV: N) is leading the fight against this growing burden, with a number of revolutionary treatments against the disease. The company presented highlights from its diabetes portfolio at a briefing at the 50th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria, this week. From established drug Victoza (liraglutide), with first-quarter sales of 2.92 billion Danish kroner ($538 million), to new treatments such as the combined therapy Ryzodeg (insulin degludec/insulin aspart), Novo Nordisk has treatment options for diabetes patients worldwide.

Diabetes treatment landscape

Prof Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk, said that the treatment of diabetes generally follows the rule of halves, explaining that only half of the people in the world with diabetes are diagnosed, half of these again receive treatment, and about half of these achieve the correct blood glucose levels. In Europe, approximately 32 million people have diabetes today, around 8.1% of the adult population. But this could rise to 38 million by 2035. Millions more are at risk with 33.5 million people suffering from pre-diabetes - impaired glucose intolerance. Diabetes will naturally worsen over time so any treatments have to combat this natural progression. In addition, weight management is becoming a more important aspect of treatment.