Novo Nordisk reports positive semaglutide data from type 2 diabetes trial

Novo Nordisk has announced headline results from its recently-completed phase IIIa trial assessing semaglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Results from the SUSTAIN3 study showed that the new GLP-1 analogue, administered subcutaneously once-weekly, can offer blood glucose control benefits compared with an established therapy.

The trial achieved its objective by demonstrating that people treated with one mg of semaglutide weekly achieved a statistically significant and superior improvement in blood glucose levels, as well as a better weight loss performance.

Novo Nordisk expects to announce headline results of the four remaining SUSTAIN trials within the next few months.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice-president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk, said: "These results support that semaglutide has the potential to become the most efficacious GLP-1 product for people with type 2 diabetes. We look forward to further results from the SUSTAIN clinical development programme."

The drug previously showed its efficacy in results from the placebo-controlled SUSTAIN1 trial reported earlier this year, in which semaglutide was assessed as a monotherapy in type 2 diabetes patients previously on diet and exercise.