Novo Nordisk's Victoza gives superior blood glucose control in Ramadan compared to sulfonylurea

Danish insulin giant Novo Nordisk (NOV: N) has presented results at the American Diabetes Association meeting showing its Victoza (liraglutide) provides improvement in blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes fasting during Ramadan.

Findings showed that adults with type 2 diabetes, treated with Victoza, in combination with metformin, experienced similar improvements in blood glucose while fasting for Ramadan (a period of four weeks), compared with sulfonylurea plus metformin. People treated with Victoza also demonstrated significantly better weight loss and fewer confirmed hypoglycemic episodes compared with those treated with sulfonylurea in Ramadan.

The 33-week, open-label, randomized study showed that Victoza sustained blood glucose control during four weeks of Ramadan, with similar reductions in fructosamine levels compared with sulfonylurea. Patients treated with Victoza also experienced fewer confirmed hypoglycemic episodes compared with people treated with sulfonylurea (2% versus 4.3%), even though the Victoza group had lower fructosamine concentration at the start of Ramadan.