People with type 2 diabetes achieve 6% weight loss with liraglutide 3 mg in phase 3a obesity trial

Novo Nordisk today announced the headline results from a 56-week, double-blind phase 3a clinical trial investigating the potential of liraglutide to induce and maintain weight loss in overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes. This is the second phase 3a trial to be completed as part of SCALETM, the clinical development programme for liraglutide 3 mg as an obesity treatment.

In the trial, 846 overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes were randomised 2:1:1 to treatment with liraglutide 3 mg, liraglutide 1.8 mg or placebo. After 56 weeks, treatment was discontinued and the subjects were followed during a 12-week observational period.

Results regarding weight loss

From a mean baseline weight of approximately 106 kg and a BMI of 37, the weight loss for people treated with liraglutide 3 mg and liraglutide 1.8 mg after 56 weeks were 6% and 5%, respectively compared to a 2% weight loss for people treated with placebo. The proportion of people achieving a weight loss of at least 5% or 10% was 50% and 22% for liraglutide 3 mg, 35% and 13% for liraglutide 1.8 mg, and 13% and 4% for placebo treatment. All differences for both doses of liraglutide were statistically significantly different from placebo and the trial met all three co-primary endpoints. During the 12- week follow-up period after treatment discontinuation, people in both liraglutide treatment groups experienced a moderate weight regain.

Results regarding glycaemic control

Starting from a baseline HbA1C of 8.0%, approximately 69%, 67% and 27% of people treated with liraglutide 3 mg, liraglutide 1.8 mg and placebo achieved the HbA1c treatment target of 7% recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). In the trial, the rate of hypoglycaemia was comparable to that observed in previous trials with liraglutide.

In the trial, liraglutide was generally well tolerated and the 56-week completion rate was 77%, 78% and 66% for liraglutide 3 mg, liraglutide 1.8 mg and placebo, respectively. Withdrawals due to adverse events were below 10% in all treatment groups. In line with previous liraglutide trials, the most common adverse events were related to the gastrointestinal system and diminished over time. No other apparent differences between the treatment groups were observed with respect to adverse events and standard safety parameters.

“We are pleased about the outcome of this trial and look forward to getting the results from the two remaining trials in the SCALETM programme”, said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. “This SCALE™ trial shows that it is possible to achieve both clinically significant weight loss and excellent glucose control with a single treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes. Weight management is often a greater challenge for this patient population and there is a need for new and effective treatment options.”

Novo Nordisk expects to complete the two remaining phase 3a trials in the SCALE™ programme by mid-2013.

About liraglutide 3 mg

Liraglutide 3 mg is a once-daily GLP-1 analogue with 97% homology to human GLP-1. Like human GLP-1, liraglutide 3 mg acts as a natural satiety hormone to reduce appetite and food intake. Liraglutide 3 mg is not an approved treatment.

Liraglutide is currently approved and marketed at lower doses (1.2 and 1.8 mg oncedaily as well as 0.9 mg in Japan) for type 2 diabetes only, under the brand name Victoza®. Victoza® is not approved for weight management and should not be prescribed for its treatment.

About the SCALETM clinical programme

SCALE™ (Satiety and Clinical Adiposity – Liraglutide Evidence in Non-diabetic and Diabetic people) consists of four trials of approximately 5,000 people who are overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) and with comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, or type 2 diabetes or who are obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) with or without comorbidities. In addition to demonstrating safety and efficacy for weight management with liraglutide 3 mg, each of the four trials has its own distinct focus:

SCALE™ Maintenance (422 people randomised) – a 56-week randomised, placebocontrolled trial designed to show weight loss maintenance in obese or overweight people with comorbidities who have successfully achieved a 5% or greater weight loss during a three month run-in period of a lifestyle modification programme of low calorie diet and exercise alone. The results of SCALETM Maintenance were reported in 2010.

SCALE™ Diabetes (846 people randomised) – a 56-week randomised, placebo-controlled trial designed to demonstrate clinically meaningful and safe weight loss with liraglutide 3 mg in obese or overweight people with type 2 diabetes.

SCALE™ Obesity and Pre-diabetes (3,731 people randomised)– a 56-week and 160- week randomised, placebo-controlled trial in obese or overweight people with comorbidities designed to demonstrate clinically meaningful and safe weight loss after 56 weeks of treatment with liraglutide 3 mg.

SCALE™ Sleep apnoea (approximately 340 people randomised) – a 32-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in obese people with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) to investigate the effect of liraglutide 3 mg in reducing the severity of OSA, in combination with diet and exercise.