Novo Nordisk progress phase III development of insulin therapies

Novo Nordisk has provided an update on the developmental progress of a pair of new insulin therapies that are currently involved in phase III trials.

The pharmaceutical company, which specialises in diabetes treatments, has completed the final phase IIIa trial for a new combination therapy called IDegLira, thus concluding its phase IIIa study programme for the drug.

IDegLira is a fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec – a once-daily new-generation basal insulin analogue with an ultra-long duration of action marketed under the name Tresiba – and the liraglutide-based Victoza, a once-daily human GLP-1 analogue.

Additionally, Novo Nordisk will be initiating phase III trials for FIAsp, a faster-acting formulation of insulin aspart, which is known commercially by the brand name NovoRapid.

Earlier this month, Novo Nordisk's long-term corporate credit rating was upgraded to A1 with a stable outlook by Moody's Investors Service.

This decision was taken partly with regard to the progress the company has made in the development of Tresiba, which is expected to help Novo Nordisk further expand its global insulin franchise.