Novo Nordisk A/S NVO announced that the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes three-year extension study on Saxenda has met its primary endpoint. The study was conducted in adults who were obese or were overweight with comorbidities and had prediabetes at baseline.

We note that Saxenda is already approved in the U.S. and the EU for the treatment of obesity.

The randomized, blinded, three-year extension study showed that continued treatment with Saxenda in combination with a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity led to a delay in onset of type II diabetes compared to placebo (in combination with diet and exercise). The time-to-onset of type II diabetes was 2.6 times longer in patients undergoing treatment with Saxenda compared to those receiving placebo. Moreover, the risk of developing the disease was cut down by approximately 80% in the Saxenda arm.

Additionally, Novo Nordisk revealed data related to weight loss of patients in the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes three-year extension study. At 160 weeks, on an average Saxenda led to a weight loss of 6.1% from baseline, compared to only 1.8% for placebo, both in combination with a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Notably, 24.3% of the patients lost over 10% of their body weight under treatment with Saxenda compared to 9.4% of those in the placebo arm.

According to the American Medical Association, obesity is a disease that requires long-term management and is associated with various serious health consequences including type II diabetes. In this scenario, results from the three-year extension study demonstrating Saxenda’s efficacy in delaying the occurrence and reducing the risk of type II diabetes are encouraging.

Meanwhile, Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.’s OREX Contrave and VIVUS Inc.’s VVUS Qsymia are already approved as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults.

Novo Nordisk carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stocks in the health care sector is Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. VRX, carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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