Good news for diabetes mellitus type 2 patients, as Novo Nordisk announced positive results for phase II trial with oral semaglutide.
Novo Nordisk successfully completed the phase II trial for OG217SC, an oral formulation of the longacting GLP-1 analogue semaglutide. Confirming the primary end-point of the trial, all doses of oral semaglutide were statistically significantly superior to placebo.
Semaglutide is a long-acting human GLP-1 analogue that stimulates insulin and suppresses glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. The molecule is in development for once-weekly subcutaneous use and for once-daily oral administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The oral formulation, OG217SC, is provided in a tablet formulation with an absorption-enhancing excipien.
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk, said: “We are very pleased with the results of this trial confirming the potential of semaglutide to treat type 2 diabetes, both as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection and as a oncedaily tablet. This clinical proof of concept marks an important milestone for oral peptide therapy within the field of diabetes”.
Based on these results, Novo Nordisk will initiate consultations with regulatory authorities subsequent to which a decision of whether to progress OG217SC into phase III development will be made. The Danish company is already the world leader in diabetes treatments. This new drug will represent one more alternative to improve diabetes patients’ lifestyle.