Lilly diabetes treatment judged comparable to market leader

Lilly has today (February 25th) announced its experimental long-lasting dulaglutide treatment for diabetes has been ruled comparable to the market-leading offering from Novo Nordisk.

The Award 6 trial of close to 600 patients with type 2 diabetes found Lilly's once-weekly drug is "non-inferior" to Novo's daily Victoza treatment in reducing blood sugar levels, producing an average reduction of hemoglobin A1C within 0.4 per cent.

Sherry Martin, Lilly's senior medical director, told Bloomberg: "Options that allow patients to more easily use the treatment are, we believe, important."

Global sales of Victoza totalled $2.1 billion (1.26 billion pounds) in 2013 and estimates from ISI Group suggest dulaglutide could generate similar revenues if it is approved by regulators.

The drug was submitted for review by authorities in the US and Europe late last year, with Lilly confident of the treatment's efficacy based on earlier clinical trials. Decisions are expected to be made in the coming months.

Full data from the Award 6 study will be presented by the company at a medical meeting later this year.