Novo Nordisk, a world leader in insulin and diabetes care,  has launched Saxenda (liraglutide 3 mg), the first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for weight management, in the United States. Saxenda has approved in the US, EU and Canada.

In the US, it is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI >=30 kg/m2) or who are overweight (BMI >=27 kg/m2) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition.

Saxenda was evaluated in the SCALE (Satiety and Clinical Adiposity-Liraglutide Evidence in Nondiabetic and Diabetic people) phase 3 clinical trial programme, which involved more than 5,000 study participants who have obesity (BMI >=30 kg/m2) or who are overweight (BMI >=27 kg/m2) with weight-related comorbidities. Trial data showed that Saxenda, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, resulted in greater weight loss than reduced calorie diet and physical activity alone.

"We are pleased to make this new treatment option available, which we believe has the potential to help people with obesity lose weight and reduce weight-related comorbidities" said executive vice president Jakob Riis, Marketing, Medical Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement of Novo Nordisk. "The launch of Saxenda is an important milestone in Novo Nordisk's long-term commitment to obesity treatment and we look forward to launching Saxenda in other countries later in 2015."

Recognised as a disease by the American Medical Association and other medical societies, obesity has grown in prevalence in the United States and around the world. Affecting approximately 35% of the US adult population in 2011-2012, obesity is associated with serious co-morbidities, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Novo Nordisk expects to launch Saxenda in several other markets starting in 2015.

Obesity is a disease that requires chronic management. It is associated with serious comorbidities including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), certain types of cancer and a decreased life expectancy. The risk of morbidity and mortality increases with the severity of obesity. It is a complex and multifactorial disease that is influenced by genetic, physiological, environmental and psychological factors. The global increase in the prevalence of obesity is a public health issue that has severe cost implications to healthcare systems. In 2011-2012 in the US, approximately 35% of adults, or nearly 80 million adults, lived with obesity.

Saxenda is a once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue with 97% similarity to naturally occurring human GLP-1, a hormone that is released in response to food intake. Like human GLP-1, Saxenda regulates appetite and lowers body weight through decreased food intake. As with other GLP-1 receptor agonists, liraglutide stimulates insulin secretion and reduces glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. These effects can lead to a reduction of blood glucose.