Novo Nordisk's diabetes jab Victoza "better than obesity drug at cutting weight"

Participants in a double-blind, placebo-controlled 20-week trial with Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Victoza (liraglutide) lost significantly more weight than did those on placebo (p=0.003 for liraglutide 1.2mg and p

<0.0001 for liraglutide 1.8-3.0mg) and swiss drug major roche's xenical (orlistat [p="0.003" for liraglutide 2.4mg and p><0.0001 for liraglutide 3.0mg]), according to a study published in the prestigious medical journal the lancet. >

Mean weight loss with liraglutide 1.2-3.0mg was 4.8kg, 5.5kg, 6.3kg, and 7.2kg compared with 2.8kg with placebo and 4.1kg with orlistat, and was 2.1kg (95% CI 0.6-3.6) to 4.4kg (2.9-6.0) greater than that with placebo. More individuals (76%, n=70) lost more than 5% weight with liraglutide 3.0mg that with placebo (30%, n=29) or orlistat (44%, n=42). Liraglutide reduced blood pressure at all doses, and cut the prevalence of pre-diabetes (84%-96% reduction) with 1.8-3.0mg per day. Nausea and vomiting occurred more often in individuals on liraglutide than in those on placebo, but adverse events were mainly transient and rarely led to discontinuation of treatment.

According to the research, which was funded by Novo Nordisk, liraglutide treatment over 20 weeks is well tolerated, induces weight loss, improves certain obesity-related risk factors, and reduces pre-diabetes. All were placed on a diet consisting of 500 fewer calories per day than they needed and an exercise program.

The drug was launched in Britain earlier this year and is currently being appraised by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for its widespread use on the National Health Service for type 2 diabetes. However, the manufacturer may need to apply for a new license for Vicotza to be used solely for obesity; the majority of cases of type 2 diabetes are linked to being overweight.

There are limitations: the drug must be injected every day as it would otherwise be broken down in the gut, and it is expensive - £500 ($817) for six months of treatment. Further studies are needed to establish the longer term risk-benefit ratio as this trial on 564 patients ran for just 20 weeks, noted the researchers.