Liraglutide reduces death in diabetes

Liraglutide has been found to reduce death in diabetes. Novo Nordisk today announced the top-line results from the Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results - A Long Term Evaluation (LEADER) trial, which investigated the cardiovascular safety of Victoza(liraglutide) over a period of up to 5 years in more than 9,000 adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.

The trial compared the addition of either Victoza or placebo to standard of care. The trial met the primary endpoint of non-inferiority as well as demonstrated superiority, with a statistically significant reduction in cardiovascular risk. The primary endpoint of the study was defined as the composite outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke. The superior reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events demonstrated by Victoza was derived from all three components of the endpoint.

LEADER is the largest and longest Novo Nordisk clinical trial to report to date. Victoza® was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2010, as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.