Blood Sugar Medicine Victoza Approved by FDA

Jun 29, 2011, 11:43 by R.E. Christian

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has approved Victoza, a once-daily injection to treat type 2 diabetes in some adults.

The FDA said Victoza (liraglutide) is intended to help lower blood sugar levels along with diet, exercise and selected other diabetes medicines. It is not recommended as initial therapy in patients who have not achieved adequate diabetes control on diet and exercise alone. Victoza is in a class of medicines that help the pancreas make more insulin after eating a meal.

"Controlling blood sugar levels is very important to preventing or reducing the long-term complications of diabetes, and Victoza offers certain patients with type 2 diabetes a treatment option for controlling their blood glucose levels," said Dr. Mary Parks, director of the FDA's division of metabolism and endocrinology products.

Victoza is manufactured by Novo Nordisk of Bagsvaerd, Denmark.

Source: UPI