Saxenda approved in Europe for the treatment of obesity

Novo Nordisk has announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation for Saxenda® (liraglutide 3 mg) for the treatment of obesity. The authorisation covers all 28 European Union (EU) member states.

Saxenda is the brand name of liraglutide 3 mg, the first once-daily human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue for the treatment of obesity approved in Europe. Saxenda is indicated in the EU as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adult patients with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 (obese), or ≥27 kg/m2 to <30 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity such as dysglycaemia (prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus), hypertension, dyslipidaemia or obstructive sleep apnoea.

Saxenda has potential to help people with obesity achieve and maintain clinically significant weight loss

“The approval of Saxenda in the EU is an important development for people with obesity who also suffer from weight-related comorbidities,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. “We believe Saxenda has the potential to help some of these people achieve and maintain clinically significant weight loss and improve their weight-related comorbidities.”

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

For more information about Novo Nordisk, please visit www.novonordisk.com.