Novo Nordisk’s Insulin Degludec/Liraglutide set to become gold standard

By Editor
18th July 2014
Latest news, Pharmaceutical

Novo Nordisk’s degludec/liraglutide (Xultophy, formerly known as IDegLira) is set to become the clinical gold standard among fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy insulin used to treat people with Type 2 diabetes, according to a leading health analysis group.

The competitive advantages that this long-acting insulin analogue/glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonist FDC has over other FDCs are due to the combined actions of the highly efficacious individual components on various measures of glycaemic control, according to a new report from Decision Resources Group.

Other key findings from the DecisionBase report Type 2 Diabetes (Fixed-Dose Combinations): Are Emerging Fixed-Dose Combinations Poised to Fill the Unmet Need for Drugs with Greater Efficacy? include:

  • Prescribing decisions: Surveyed US and European endocrinologists agree that a therapy’s ability to reduce glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is the attribute that most influences their decisions regarding prescribing in Type 2 diabetes.
  • Key unmet needs: Greater reduction in body weight was highlighted by US endocrinologists as the greatest unmet need relating to the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Interviewed thought leaders note that co-administration of a GLP-1 receptor agonist with an insulin has the potential to mitigate the weight gain associated with insulin treatment and are therefore enthusiastic about combining these treatments.
  • Factors influencing formulary decisions: Surveyed US payers indicate that improvements in the key efficacy attribute of greater reduction in body weight and the key safety attribute of greater reduction in incidence of cardiovascular adverse events will be chief drivers for formulary inclusion.

Decision Resources Group analyst Tim Blackstock said: “Given that Type 2 diabetes patients are often treated with several agents, FDCs are a way to improve convenience and compliance for patients with a high pill burden. The main drawback highlighted by interviewed thought leaders is the less-flexible titration offered by these combinations compared with individual agents.

“While both surveyed physicians and payers highlight greater reductions in body weight as a key unmet need, the development of novel agents with improved efficacy in reducing HbA1c remains the greatest opportunity for pharmaceutical companies working in Type 2 diabetes.”

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