Pediatric use of Victoza approved by US FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Victoza (liraglutide) injection for the treatment of pediatric patients aged 10 years or older with type 2 diabetes, under a priority review evaluation.

GLP-1 receptor agonist Victoza, developed and marketed by Danish diabetes care giant Novo Nordisk (NOV: N), is the first non-insulin drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes in pediatric patients since metformin was approved for pediatric use in 2000.

Victoza has been approved to treat adult patients with type 2 diabetes since 20100 and, it is now the only non-insulin drug approved for children other than metformin, which was approved for pediatric use in 2000. In the first quarter of this year, the drug generated sales of around $850 million.