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Both high and low-dose injections of new diabetes drug Victoza are more effective at reducing blood-sugar levels than a daily dose of Januvia, researchers in the US have claimed.
A head-to-head study showed that Danish firm Novo Nordisk’s Victoza (liraglutide) was more effective than Merck & Co’s Januvia (sitagliptin), scientists at the University of Vermont’s College of Medicine have said.
The trial participants were people who have type 2 diabetes who had already responded poorly to the better known drug metformin.
Novo Nordisk funded the study, the results of which were published in the journal The Lancet. Two years ago the firm showed that Victoza was better at regulating blood-sugar than another drug in the same class of medicine, Byetta.
The latest study, which lasted six months, demonstrated that 1.8 milligrams of Victoza lowered levels of HbA1c by 1.5% against Januvia’s 0.9% – even a lower Victoza dose of 1.2 mg reduced HbA1C by 1.2%.
The university’s Dr Richard Pratley, who was involved in the study, said the difference in blood-sugar levels is “clinically relevant”.
Victoza causes some nausea and weight-loss, he added.
Copyright Press Association 2010
The Lancet
