Switzerland first country to launch Xultophy® (IDegLira)

Today, Novo Nordisk announced Switzerland as the first country to launch Xultophy® (IDegLira) for people with type 2 diabetes.  Xultophy® is the first combination of a basal insulin [Tresiba® (insulin degludec)] and a GLP-1 analogue [Victoza® (liraglutide)]. Xultophy® is administered as a once-daily single injection independently of meals.  It is intended for use in adults with type 2 diabetes that are inadequately controlled with oral glucose-lowering treatments when these are used alone or together with basal insulin.* ^1,2

For people with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on basal insulin, Xultophy^® has demonstrated a significant 1.9% HbA_1c reduction, mean weight loss of 2.7 kg and a low rate of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) comparable to insulin degludec.³

“More than half of people with type 2 diabetes on basal insulin do not achieve glycaemic control and have an increased risk of developing complications,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. “The benefits that Xultophy^® has shown and the convenience it provides may help motivate people with type 2 diabetes to better adhere to therapy and proactively manage their disease.”

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease, which often requires people to initiate and then intensify insulin treatment to achieve or maintain their glycaemic targets over time.⁴ 

“Even though insulin is a very effective treatment, people who live with type 2 diabetes may be reluctant to intensify their regimen because they prefer fewer injections or fear the potential side effects of weight gain and hypoglycaemia,” said Professor Roger Lehmann, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. “The clinical programme for Xultophy^® has shown consistent results in improving glycaemic control in patients uncontrolled on basal insulin and in patients who are not treated with insulin, providing hope for many people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and the physicians who treat them.”

Novo Nordisk expects to make Xultophy^® available in other countries throughout Europe in 2015.

References

1. EMA. Xultophy®Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/2014/20140918129550/anx_129550_en.pdf Last accessed: 08.12.2014
2. SwissMedic. Xultophy®: Information for Professionals. 22.09.2014.
3. Buse JB, et al. Contribution of liraglutide in the fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide (IDegLira), Diabetes Care 2014; 37: 2926-2933
4. Inzucchi SE, et al. Management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes: a patient-centered approach. Position statement of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetologia 2012; 55:1577-1596.

*In Switzerland, Xultophy® is indicated in combination with metformin or metformin plus a sulfonylurea for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus if metformin alone or in combination with a sulfonylurea or basal insulin does not provide adequate glycaemic control.² In the EU, Xultophy® is indicated for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes to improve glycaemic control in combination with oral glucose-lowering treatments when these alone or combined with basal insulin do not provide adequate glycaemic control.¹