Novo Nordisk reports strong results from obesity drug trial

Novo Nordisk has announced positive findings from a phase IIIa study of liraglutide, showing the weight loss benefits associated with the drug.

The Scale obesity and pre-diabetes study involved 3,731 patients and showed that liraglutide provided significantly greater weight loss benefits than placebo when administered in combination with diet and exercise over 56 weeks of treatment.

This was the largest trial in the Scale programme to date evaluating liraglutide, an investigational once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue for weight management. The drug is yet to be approved for this specification in any markets.

Data from this study will help to support the ongoing regulatory approval processes for the compound in the US and EU.

Dr Xavier Pi-Sunyer, co-director of the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center and lead investigator of the trial, said: "The high proportion of people achieving this clinically meaningful weight loss is encouraging, particularly when seen in combination with the additional benefits beyond weight loss that are also being evaluated with liraglutide 3 mg treatment."

Earlier this month, the company reported clinical trial data showing how its NovoEight product can provide long-term reduction of bleeding in people with haemophilia A.