We have just heard that Novo Nordisk is to reinitiate Phase III clinical trials for Liraglutide as an anti-obesity drug. Liraglutide is already licensed as a treatment for diabetes and has shown great promise as an anti-obesity agent. A trial in 2009 appeared to demonstrate efficacy and safety. A wider trial of 5000 people is to begin in 2011. The company behind the new drug wanted to wait until they had a marketing authorization for the drug as a treatment for diabetes in the US before it pursued further obesity trials.
Liraglutide is marketed under the name Victoza and is a glugogonlike peptide (GLP-1). Liraglutide appears to be highly effective as a weight loss drug but one likely drawback is that it cannot be taken in tablet or capsule form – it must be injected subcutaneously. This could lead to patient compliance issues but studies are afoot to determine whether the administration regimen can be reduced to once a week.
The study into Liraglutide as a weight loss medication is an exciting development but do not expect it to be licensed before 2013.