Novo Nordisk to initiate phase III clinical trials for diabetes drug semaglutide

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

Novo Nordisk has announced its decision to initiate global phase III clinical trials for semaglutide, a human Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, developed for once-weekly treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide successfully completed phase II development in 2010.

“We are excited about the opportunity that semaglutide represents to further improve type 2 diabetes therapy within the GLP-1 CLASS. The clinical data for semaglutide, in terms of glucose control, weight loss and a low level of hypoglycaemic events after weekly dosing, hold great promise for a differentiated profile and improvement to the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.”

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer of Novo Nordisk.

Novo Nordisk plans to initiate the first phase III study in the SUSTAIN programme, at the beginning of 2013. The global clinical development programme is expected to include over 8,000 patients.