Novo Nordisk files for approval of liraglutide in Japan

Danish insulin giant Novo Nordisk has filed for approval of its diabetes drug liraglutide in Japan. The Japanese Phase III program, which included 678 patients with type 2 diabetes, was designed to test the drug for use as an adjunct to diet and exercise, both as monotherapy and in combination with sulfonylurea. The agent is a once-daily human analog of the naturally-occurring hormone glucagon-like peptide-1. It works by stimulating the release of insulin only when glucose levels become too high and by inhibiting appetite. In contrast to most other antidiabetic treatments, liraglutide also leads to weight loss instead of weight increase, noted the diabetes specialist. Analysts predict that the agent will achieve peak annual sales of $1.0 billion.