VIDEO: Early response predicts weight loss success with liraglutide

VANCOUVER, B.C. – If patients haven’t lost 5% or more of their body weight after 16 weeks on liraglutide at a daily dose of 3 mg, the drug’s not going to work for weight loss and should be stopped, according to findings from a study by Novo Nordisk, the maker of liraglutide, that was presented at the World Diabetes Congress.

The 3-mg dose is marketed for weight loss as Saxenda; the drug is also sold as Victoza for type 2 diabetes at a dose of up to 1.8 mg.

The findings come from a new analysis of Novo Nordisk’s SCALE study, which included diet and exercise along with liraglutide 3 mg. About two-thirds of obese and prediabetic patients, versus about a third of patients on placebo, responded early to the 3-mg dose, losing 5% or more of their weight by week 16. By week 56, they had a mean weight loss of 11.5%. About half of patients with type 2 diabetes were early responders; they lost a mean of 9.3% at week 56. Nonresponders lost about 3.7% of their body weight after 56 weeks. Rates of hepatobiliary disorders with liraglutide were highest in nondiabetic subjects, at 3.5% (N Engl J Med. 2015 Jul 2;373[1]:11-22).

In an interview at the meeting, investigator Dr. Matthias Blüher, an endocrinology professor at the University of Leipzig (Germany), explained how to make use of the findings.

aotto@frontlinemedcom.com

VANCOUVER, B.C. – If patients haven’t lost 5% or more of their body weight after 16 weeks on liraglutide at a daily dose of 3 mg, the drug’s not going to work for weight loss and should be stopped, according to findings from a study by Novo Nordisk, the maker of liraglutide, that was presented at the World Diabetes Congress.

The 3-mg dose is marketed for weight loss as Saxenda; the drug is also sold as Victoza for type 2 diabetes at a dose of up to 1.8 mg.

The findings come from a new analysis of Novo Nordisk’s SCALE study, which included diet and exercise along with liraglutide 3 mg. About two-thirds of obese and prediabetic patients, versus about a third of patients on placebo, responded early to the 3-mg dose, losing 5% or more of their weight by week 16. By week 56, they had a mean weight loss of 11.5%. About half of patients with type 2 diabetes were early responders; they lost a mean of 9.3% at week 56. Nonresponders lost about 3.7% of their body weight after 56 weeks. Rates of hepatobiliary disorders with liraglutide were highest in nondiabetic subjects, at 3.5% (N Engl J Med. 2015 Jul 2;373[1]:11-22).

In an interview at the meeting, investigator Dr. Matthias Blüher, an endocrinology professor at the University of Leipzig (Germany), explained how to make use of the findings.

aotto@frontlinemedcom.com

VANCOUVER, B.C. – If patients haven’t lost 5% or more of their body weight after 16 weeks on liraglutide at a daily dose of 3 mg, the drug’s not going to work for weight loss and should be stopped, according to findings from a study by Novo Nordisk, the maker of liraglutide, that was presented at the World Diabetes Congress.

The 3-mg dose is marketed for weight loss as Saxenda; the drug is also sold as Victoza for type 2 diabetes at a dose of up to 1.8 mg.

The findings come from a new analysis of Novo Nordisk’s SCALE study, which included diet and exercise along with liraglutide 3 mg. About two-thirds of obese and prediabetic patients, versus about a third of patients on placebo, responded early to the 3-mg dose, losing 5% or more of their weight by week 16. By week 56, they had a mean weight loss of 11.5%. About half of patients with type 2 diabetes were early responders; they lost a mean of 9.3% at week 56. Nonresponders lost about 3.7% of their body weight after 56 weeks. Rates of hepatobiliary disorders with liraglutide were highest in nondiabetic subjects, at 3.5% (N Engl J Med. 2015 Jul 2;373[1]:11-22).

In an interview at the meeting, investigator Dr. Matthias Blüher, an endocrinology professor at the University of Leipzig (Germany), explained how to make use of the findings.

aotto@frontlinemedcom.com