A new Diabetes drug that reduces blood sugar levels and helps people lose weight was approved on Tuesday by United States health authorities.
Danish pharmaceuticals Novo Nordisk indicated that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the weekly injection for people suffering from type 2 diabetes. The drug, called Ozempic, also known as Semaglutide, works by stimulating thebody insulin production and reduce appetite.
In a study funded by a large company, the Ozempic, on average, reduced long -term blood sugar levels at least 2 and a half times more than another popular daily dose pill, Merck & AMP Januvia;Co. participants also helped lose two or three times more weight than those in the comparison group.
Over 56 weeks, patients who received a lower dose of Ozempic reduced their weight in an average of 4.3 kilograms (9.5 pounds), while those who ingested a higher dose fell 6.1 kilos (13, 5 pounds).Patients who took Januvia cooled 1.9 kilos (4 pounds) on average.
The 1,200 participants in the study also took one or two standard medicines against diabetes.
Novo Nordisk, a leader in attention to this disease, has also been testing the drug separately focusing only on weight loss.
Many patients with type 2 diabetes are weight or obese, and losing weight significantly usually helps them reduce blood sugar and better control the disease.Over time, high sugar can damage multiple organs and weaken circulation.
The new drug comes in a pen to inject and cost almost the same as similar medications, about $ 676 for a dose of four to six weeks for people who do not have insurance.
Ozempic will compete with other popular drugs of weekly application in the same class, including Eli Lilly and Co. and Bydureon of Astrazeneca PLC, which do not generate so much weight loss.However, everyone involves warnings about possible serious side effects, including renal damage and inflammation of the pancreas.They could also be linked to thyroid cancer, so people who ingest any of these drugs are being followed up.
Januvia is in a different group of drugs.
