Novo Nordisk races ahead (NYSE:NVO)

Novo Nordisk A/S (ADR) (NYSE:NVO) has made an announcement that their diabetes treatment Liraglutide cuts weight and reduces health risks in obese non-diabetics. The Denmark-based healthcare company unveiled a set of new data that demonstrated that its Type 2 diabetes drug Victoza is far more effective than Roche’s Xenical in cutting weight and losing blood pressure. Novo Nordisk has already applied for the New Drug Application however; it has not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration panel. Novo Nordisk is into the manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products and services to patients who are suffering from diabetes.

According to the study, around 564 patients across Europe were administered with Victoza drug on daily basis and on an average patient lost 4.8 to 7.2 kilograms over the period depending on the size of dose given. On the other hand, it was also placed with a Xenical placebo and Xenical was only able to reduce around 4.1 kilograms over the period of study. Other drugs of the similar category were also put to test and they were only able to reduce patient’s weight to around 2.1 kilograms during the research period. Hence, the data clearly demonstrates that Victoza has far greater impact on patients to help them reduce their obesity problems.

Novo Nordisk’s Liraglutide marketed as Victoza also reduces the blood pressure and prevalence of pre-diabetes or poor blood sugar control which can clearly classified as diabetes. The results of this study indicate the potential benefit of Victoza in conjunction with an energy-deficit diet for the treatment of obesity and associated risk factors. The Company submitted its New Drug Application for diabetes in May 2008 and received approval from European health regulators in July 2008. Now, Novo Nordisk is waiting for FDA approval after which they will launch the drug in United States.