Liraglutide monotherapy cuts blood sugar and weight

Data presented at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association showed that Danish diabetes specialist Novo Nordisk's  once-daily liraglutide, taken as monotherapy, led to  statistically-significant and sustained reductions in blood sugar and  weight after two years of treatment.

In the study, 58% of patients treated with liraglutide 1.8mg once daily  reached and maintained the ADA's blood sugar target of HbA1C less than  7% versus 37% of those treated with glimepiride 8mg once daily.

"The fact that liraglutide continues to effectively lower blood sugar  after two years of treatment is consistent with its other long-term  clinical benefits, such as continued reductions in fasting blood sugar  and weight," said principal study investigator Alan Garber.