GLP-1 bragging rights

Novo Nordisk A/S released data at last week's American Diabetes Association meeting showing that its once daily liraglutide was at least as good as twice-daily Byetta exenatide from Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. But Amylin thinks that the established efficacy and safety record for Byetta, plus the knowledge in the clinical community that its once-weekly formulation is on its way, will be enough to maintain its marketing edge in an imminent battle of GLP-1 analogs.

Byetta is the only GLP-1 analog on the market. It was launched with partner Eli Lilly and Co. in 2005 and is indicated as an adjunct in Type II diabetics who are also taking either metformin, a sulfonylurea, thia-zolidinedione (TZD), or some combination, but still lack adequate glycemic control. U.S. sales totaled $636 million in 2007...