Novo Nordisk's Saxenda provides benefits beyond weight loss

New data from a post-hoc analysis of the Phase IIIa SCALE clinical trial program were presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO), demonstrating the weight-loss-dependent and independent effects of Danish diabetes care giant Novo Nordisk’s (NOV: N) Saxenda (liraglutide 3mg).

"For the first time, we have looked at the SCALE clinical trial program to explore to what degree the benefits of liraglutide 3mg could be assigned to the drug itself, or to the effect of the weight loss a person may achieve while taking liraglutide 3mg, the post-hoc analysis confirmed that weight loss has a positive impact on a number of cardiometabolic risk factors, including high blood pressure and cholesterol. However, importantly we also saw the direct effect of liraglutide 3mg on glycemic control and other endpoints, independent of weight loss," said Luc Van Gaal, a professor and head of the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Antwerp University Hospital, and SCALE trial investigator.

Blockbuster potential in obesity

Saxenda was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obesity in late 2014 and was cleared for this indication in Europe more recently (The Pharma Letter March 24).The active ingredient, but at a lower dose is also that of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster diabetes drug Victoza. Sydbank analyst Soren Hansen said last October that he expected Saxenda to generate peak worldwide sales of around $2.2 billion in 2024.