Daily diabetes drug approved for NHS

An injectable drug that can be taken by diabetics once a day to help control their blood sugar levels is to be made available on the NHS, it has been revealed. Liraglutide, also known as Victoza, can also be taken by people with obesity problems, as it stimulates the release of insulin and lowers the appetite, as well as having the effect of reducing blood pressure and cholesterol .
Victoza, which should only be taken in combination with other diabetes drugs, can provide a middle phase between oral tablets and starting to take insulin. Drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has published draft guidance stating that a 1.2mg dose of the drug per day was suitable for some diabetics, but that there was no any extra benefit from a higher dose.
It also recommended that treatment should continue only if the patient is benefiting from it. The draft guidance produced by Nice also recommends the drug is injected if other key diabetes drugs have failed.
Dr Carole Longso, health technology evaluation centre director at Nice, commented “[type 2 diabetes] is a serious, progressive disease, and so we are pleased to be able to recommend liraglutide 1.2 mg daily as a clinically and cost-effective treatment option for some patients with Type 2 diabetes .”