Diabetes Type 2 Support Group
Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not make efficient use of it. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert food into glucose, a sugar that the body uses for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose can accumulate in the blood, and can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes and organ damage...
HOMEFINANCENEWS BY SECTOR
PHARMACEUTICALS AND CHEMICALS
Novo to test drug for severe obesity
The world's biggest insulin producer, Novo Nordisk, is eyeing a move into preventative treatment with plans to test whether Victoza, its diabetes drug, could be used to tackle severe obesity.
By Rachel Cooper
Published: 3:55PM BST 31 Aug 2010
Severe obesity is often associated with diabetes Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Victoza, one of a new class of injectible medications used to treat the early stages of type 2 - or "adult onset" diabetes, has been on the market in Europe since last year.
Lars Sorensen, chief executive of the Danish drug giant, said that it has been so successful in reducing patients' weight that the company is considering testing whether Victoza could be used to treat severe obesity a condition often associated with diabetes.
Related Articles
Canada approves GW Pharmas cannabis-based drug
Genetics 'no excuse' for obesity
Yoga protects against depression
Spinach and cabbage 'may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes'
Light weights just as effective for perfect body
New drug for type 2 diabetes helps with weight loss
"If given in pharmacological doses, [Victoza] has a profound effect on type 2 diabetes in that it lowers blood sugar, it lowers blood pressure, it lowers weight," he said. "And indeed, so much so that we are currently investigating whether we can develop this drug as a weight-lowering drug for people with severe obesity and other risk factors."
Novo is now deciding how to run final-stage trials to test whether Victoza could be used to treat obesity and using the drug for this application could still be five years away.
But if successful, it could signal a move by Novo into prevention of diabetes as well as the treatment of a condition which currently affects about 285m people and is expected to affect 483m people by 2030.
"What we are aiming to treat are not these individuals that are just overweight," said Mr Sorensen. "For these individuals, we think other measures should be taken - diet, counselling, physiotherapy, all kinds of means to avoid either surgery or pharmaceutical intervention.
"The really big part of preventing diabetes is a societal, cultural one rather than a pharmacological one."
But for those unable to fight weight gain and at risk of developing diabetes or other serious conditions, he said Novo could argue "there is a legitimate risk/benefit balance where these patients can benefit from pharmacological treatment".
PHARMACEUTICALS AND CHEMICALS
Novo to test drug for severe obesity
The world's biggest insulin producer, Novo Nordisk, is eyeing a move into preventative treatment with plans to test whether Victoza, its diabetes drug, could be used to tackle severe obesity.
By Rachel Cooper
Published: 3:55PM BST 31 Aug 2010
Severe obesity is often associated with diabetes Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Victoza, one of a new class of injectible medications used to treat the early stages of type 2 - or "adult onset" diabetes, has been on the market in Europe since last year.
Lars Sorensen, chief executive of the Danish drug giant, said that it has been so successful in reducing patients' weight that the company is considering testing whether Victoza could be used to treat severe obesity a condition often associated with diabetes.
Related Articles
Canada approves GW Pharmas cannabis-based drug
Genetics 'no excuse' for obesity
Yoga protects against depression
Spinach and cabbage 'may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes'
Light weights just as effective for perfect body
New drug for type 2 diabetes helps with weight loss
"If given in pharmacological doses, [Victoza] has a profound effect on type 2 diabetes in that it lowers blood sugar, it lowers blood pressure, it lowers weight," he said. "And indeed, so much so that we are currently investigating whether we can develop this drug as a weight-lowering drug for people with severe obesity and other risk factors."
Novo is now deciding how to run final-stage trials to test whether Victoza could be used to treat obesity and using the drug for this application could still be five years away.
But if successful, it could signal a move by Novo into prevention of diabetes as well as the treatment of a condition which currently affects about 285m people and is expected to affect 483m people by 2030.
"What we are aiming to treat are not these individuals that are just overweight," said Mr Sorensen. "For these individuals, we think other measures should be taken - diet, counselling, physiotherapy, all kinds of means to avoid either surgery or pharmaceutical intervention.
"The really big part of preventing diabetes is a societal, cultural one rather than a pharmacological one."
But for those unable to fight weight gain and at risk of developing diabetes or other serious conditions, he said Novo could argue "there is a legitimate risk/benefit balance where these patients can benefit from pharmacological treatment".
deleted_user
Wow that is something. I may have to go back and research Victoza again and talk to my Doc about it. I dropped my Actos, and Glipizide this week. I don not need to make more fat cells.
deleted_user
Unfortunately, fat cells are fat cells - a little or a lot. Either way, those with fat cells fight all their life to keep weight off. I'm one of them.
deleted_user
Did you see the one Arlineh posted on the same drug? It is no wonder people are so frightened and confused when they are told they are diabetic.
Join the Conversation
-
My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...