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

Saxenda® is the first once-daily human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue for the treatment of obesity approved in Europe. Saxenda® is prescribed as a supplement 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) with at least one weight-related condition such as dysglycaemia), hypertension, dyslipidaemia or obstructive sleep apnoea.

“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 this year.

Source: Novo Nordisk