Novo Nordisk reports positive trial data for haemophilia B drug

Novo Nordisk has announced the completion of Paradigm 2, a new study that has underlined the benefits of the investigational haemophilia B therapy N9-GP.

The study was the first phase III trial to assess the long-acting glycopegylated recombinant factor IX derivative against haemophilia B and showed that N9-GP was able to regulate the frequency of bleeding incidents, while also enhancing patients' quality of life.

Moreover, no patients in the trial developed inhibitors, nor were there any apparent differences between the treatment groups in terms of adverse events and standard safety parameters.

The two remaining phase III trials in the Paradigm programme respectively involve children and patients undergoing surgery and are due to be completed within the next 12 months, with regulatory submissions to follow in 2015.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice-president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk, said: "We are very excited about the strong results from this trial, which could represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of haemophilia B."

Earlier this month, the company announced plans to expand its Danish manufacturing site in Kalundborg to allow for future production of semaglutide, a new treatment for type 2 diabetes.