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Victoza

Generic name: liraglutide
Treatment for: Diabetes, Type 2

NDA Submitted for Liraglutide

Novo Nordisk Files for Regulatory Approval of Liraglutide in Both the US and Europe

PRINCETON, NJ, May 30, 2008-Novo Nordisk today announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US as well as a marketing authorisation application to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) in Europe, for the approval of liraglutide, a once-daily human GLP-1 analogue, for the treatment of people with type 2 diabetes.

Both the US and the European applications contain documentation from an extensive clinical development programme that included around 6,500 people of which approximately 4,200 received liraglutide. The programme was designed to obtain the indication for use of liraglutide to treat type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise, both as monotherapy and in combination with commonly used antidiabetic medications. The majority of people were included in the phase 3 trials constituting the LEAD(TM) (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes) programme. The LEAD(TM) programme has compared liraglutide with three widely used classes of antidiabetic drugs - sulfonylurea, glitazone or basal insulin - and the programme confirmed a statistically significant benefit of liraglutide on the primary endpoint, lowering of blood glucose (HbA1c), as well as on the secondary endpoint, weight loss.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer at Novo Nordisk, said: "This is a major achievement for Novo Nordisk and it represents a huge amount of work done by Novo Nordisk employees and our collaborators across the world. We are very pleased with the results from the programme demonstrating that liraglutide will be able to offer benefits to people with type 2 diabetes. We are enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing liraglutide to market after completion of the regulatory process."

Novo Nordisk still expects to file for marketing approval of liraglutide in Japan in the third quarter of 2008.

The submission of liraglutide in the US and Europe does not impact Novo Nordisk's expectations for the company's financial results for 2008, which were provided on 30 April in connection with the release of the financial results for the first quarter of 2008.

About Liraglutide, LEAD(TM) and HbA1c

Liraglutide is a once-daily human analogue of the naturally occurring hormone Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1). Liraglutide works by stimulating the release of insulin only when glucose levels become too high and by inhibiting appetite. In contrast to most other antidiabetic treatments, liraglutide also leads to weight loss instead of weight increase.

The portfolio of LEAD(TM) studies for liraglutide included around 4,000 patients with type 2 diabetes whose blood glucose is inadequately controlled. The programme was comprised of five randomised, controlled, double-blind studies conducted in more than 40 countries.

The LEAD(TM) 1 and LEAD(TM) 2 studies investigated the effect of different doses of liraglutide in combination with a single oral antidiabetic drug, glimepiride and metformin respectively.
The LEAD(TM) 3 study compared the effect of liraglutide with glimepiride when used as monotherapy.
The LEAD(TM) 4 study investigated the effect of different doses of liraglutide in combination with metformin and rosiglitazone.
The LEAD(TM) 5 study compared the effect of liraglutide with insulin glargine when used as add-on therapy in patients inadequately controlled by two of the most widely used oral antidiabetic drugs: metformin and a sulfonylurea (glimepiride).

At the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to be held in San Francisco on 6-10 June 2008, Novo Nordisk will present detailed results from the LEAD(TM) phase 3 programme with liraglutide.
HbA1c is an abbreviation for glycated haemoglobin HbA1c. The level of HbA1c reflects the average blood glucose level over the past two to three months and a decrease is therefore a measure of treatment effect. The higher the blood glucose the more glucose binds to haemoglobin (glycation).

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 26,300 employees in 80 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For more information, visit novonordisk.com.

Further information:

Media: Investors:

Outside North America: Outside North America:
Mike Rulis Mads Veggerby Lausten
Tel: (+45) 3079 3573 Tel: (+45) 4443 7919
mike@novonordisk.com mlau@novonordisk.com

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