Diabetes drug Victoza now available in China

Tue, 11 Oct 2011
The once-daily GLP-1 diabetes drug Victoza, which was developed to treat patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, has been launched in China, it has emerged.

The Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk has announced the successful drug, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue, will be now available on the Chinese market, as it has received approval from the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA).

The drug, which helps to stimulate the beta cells so that they release insulin when blood sugar levels become high and is associated with a low rate of hypoglycaemia, has previously been launched in over 39 countries around the world, and is the first and only human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue that is 97 per cent similar to endogenous human GLP-1.

Victoza gained approval by the European Commmission in 2009 as a treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes to help achieve glycaemic control, in conjunction with drugs such as metformin, and was approved in the US last year.

Ron Christie, senior vice president and head of Novo Nordisk's Chinese arm, commented "Victoza offers a treatment option by effectively reducing blood sugar levels and weight with a low risk of hypoglycaemia."

He added "We believe the benefits associated with Victoza will help more people with type 2 diabetes in China achieve better control of their disease."

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