Product News and Recalls

Diabetes drug looks good in study

The blog FiercePharma reports that the diabetes drug Victoza has performed well in a clinical study – performing better than competitors Januvia and Byetta in keeping patients’ blood sugar below a target of 7 percent.

Novo Nordisk, Victoza’s manufacturer, is working to secure more of an edge in what the blog entry describes as “the fast-growing diabetes market.” But it will likely face challenges in the form of a marketing blitz from the pharmaceutical companies that produce the competing medications – Merck in the case of Januvia and Amylin Pharmaceuticals in the case of Byetta.

So Novo Nordisk has presented a number of studies comparing Victoza with the competitors. As a result of one of those studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a “superiority claim,” with Victoza’s official label now pointing out its advantage in controlling blood sugar and body weight.

Other studies have linked both Byetta and Januvia to pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Byetta has also been linked to an increased risk of thyroid cancer.

Even in light of those studies, Novo Nordisk is under pressure to carve out a place for itself in the diabetes drug market.

The report says the company Sanofi is seeking approval for Lyxumia, which would be a direct competitor to Victoza. Europe’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recently recommended Lyxumia for approval. And Sanofi is also applying for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FiercePharma reports.

You should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns, and before making any changes in medication. You should also consult with a Lopez McHugh attorney if you or a loved one was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after taking Januvia or Byetta.

See the report here:

https://www.fiercepharma.com/story/sharpening-victozas-edge-novo-touts-data-trial-against-januvia-byetta/2012-11-27