Novo Nordisk (NVO) Reports Positive Trial Results On Victoza

Novo Nordisk (CO:NOVOb) (NYSE:NVO) announced results from the LEADER trial on Victoza at the American Diabetes Association's 76th Scientific Sessions.

Results were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The trial is evaluating the long-term effects of Victoza, in comparison to placebo, both in addition to the standard of care, in people with type 2 diabetes at high risk of major cardiovascular (CV) events.

Results from the multicenter, international, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial showed that Victoza significantly reduced the risk of the composite primary endpoint of CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (heart attack) or non-fatal stroke by 13%, compared to placebo, when added to the standard of care in adults with type II diabetes at high CV risk.

Results also showed that treatment with Victoza resulted in a 22% reduction in cardiovascular death, compared to placebo.

This means that Victoza can improve outcomes beyond glucose reduction and weight loss in reducing cardiovascular complications and death in people with type II diabetes.

We note that Victoza is indicated in Europe for the treatment of adults with type II diabetes to achieve glycemic control as monotherapy, when metformin is considered inappropriate, and in combination with oral glucose-lowering medicinal products and/or basal insulin when these, together with diet and exercise, do not provide adequate glycemic control. The drug is also approved in the U.S. as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type II diabetes.

These results bode well for Victoza. We note that Novo Nordisk has a strong presence in the diabetes care market, supported by one of the broadest diabetes portfolios in the industry comprising drugs like Victoza, Levemir and modern insulins.

Novo Nordisk carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the healthcare sector are Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE:PFE) , Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) . While Pfizer and Bristol-Myers sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Abbott Labs is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock.