Japanese approvals for Novo's Ryzodeg, UCB/Otsuka's Neupro and B-MS/Pfizer's Eliquis

Danish insulin giant Novo Nordisk (NOVN: NV) revealed on December 15 that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has approved the firm’s Ryzodeg (insulin degludec/insulin aspart) for the treatment of diabetes.

Ryzodeg is a soluble formulation of Tresiba (insulin degludec), a once-daily new-generation basal insulin analogue with an ultra-long duration of action, and NovoRapid (insulin aspart which in the US is marketed under the brand name NovoLog). Ryzodeg can be administered once or twice daily with the main meal(s). In global „treat-to-target' studies supporting the new drug application, where Ryzodeg was compared to NovoMix, Ryzodeg® demonstrated a significantly lower risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia while successfully achieving equivalent reductions in HbA1c.

In Japan, Ryzodeg will be available in FlexTouch, Novo Nordisk’s latest prefilled insulin pen, which has an easy auto-injector mechanism, and in Penfill for Novo Nordisk's durable insulin pens.