Novo Nordisk Shares Surge on Positive Childhood Obesity Drug Trial Results

Novo Nordisk has reported a significant development in their weight loss drug research, showing that their drug, liraglutide, is safe and effective for treating obesity in children as young as six years old. The study, funded by Novo Nordisk, included 82 children aged 6 to 12 who had previously received lifestyle intervention with no significant results. After a year of using Novo Nordisk's Saxenda injection, the participants experienced a 7.4% reduction in their body mass index (BMI), compared to a control group using a placebo.

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 drug that not only treats diabetes but also promotes weight loss through mechanisms such as stimulating insulin secretion, suppressing appetite, and increasing tissue sensitivity to insulin. It is marketed under the brand names Victoza for diabetes and Saxenda for obesity. Currently, Novo Nordisk is focusing on promoting new-generation GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for diabetes, both of which have seen significant global success.

With the positive results from this study, Novo Nordisk and competitor Eli Lilly are looking to expand the applications of GLP-1 drugs, exploring their potential use in treating conditions such as heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. Novo Nordisk's head of research, Martin Holst Lange, indicated that the company plans to apply to the U.S. FDA and the European EMA to extend liraglutide's use to children under 12 years old, highlighting the importance of early intervention in childhood obesity to prevent adult obesity.

Despite there being no approved drugs for treating obesity in children under 12, medications for specific genetic disorders have already been approved. Novo Nordisk is also exploring the use of semaglutide in children for weight loss, a therapy already approved for those over 12 and more effective than liraglutide. However, side effects such as nausea and vomiting, along with the tendency for weight to rebound after discontinuation, underscore the limitations of drug treatment for obesity.

Preliminary research on amycretin, a daily oral drug, showed that patients in the highest dosage group lost 13% of their body weight over three months without reaching a weight loss plateau. These findings were presented at a diabetes conference in Madrid, suggesting more treatment possibilities for obesity. Novo Nordisk's stock saw a boost following these promising results.

Novo Nordisk is also developing another new subcutaneous weight loss treatment, CagriSema, which combines semaglutide with cagrilintide. Phase 2 data has shown promising results, helping patients lose approximately 16% of their body weight after 32 weeks of treatment. Lange mentioned that the weight loss capabilities of amycretin appear comparable to those of CagriSema.

In other news, Novo Nordisk's long-acting human growth hormone treatment, Sogroya (somapacitan), has been submitted for approval in China, with the potential to influence the competitive landscape of the growth hormone market dramatically. Sogroya has already been approved in five countries and demonstrates a significant advancement with its once-weekly dosing regimen using the company's established protein technology. If approved, Sogroya could enhance patient compliance and outcome in treating growth hormone deficiencies.

Overall, Novo Nordisk continues to expand its portfolio and research into the growing and competitive markets of weight loss and growth hormone therapies. The company's commitment to addressing critical health issues with innovative treatments positions it as a leader in the pharmaceutical industry.