Novo Nordisk today announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved Victoza@ for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Victoza is the brand name for liraglutide, the first Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue approved in Japan, developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Victoza is indicated as monotherapy or as an add-on to sulphonylurea (SU) in people with type 2 diabetes. “The Japanese approval of Victoza represents a major advancement in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an important milestone for Novo Nordisk.” says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. “We are excited to pioneer the GLP-1 market in Japan, where we are convinced Victoza will prove to be a valuable treatment option for people with type 2 diabetes. The clinical studies conducted in Japan showed Victoza to provide superior glucose control with a low risk of hypoglycaemia.” Novo Nordisk expects to launch Victoza in Japan in the first half of 2010 upon completion of price negotiations.
