Express Scripts, one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers, reportedly plans to include Novo Nordisk‘s (NYSE:NVO) once-weekly Type II diabetes, Ozempic, on its 2018 formulary. The move puts Ozempic directly in competition with Eli Lilly‘s (NYSE:LLY) once-weekly Trulicity drug. Both products will also go up against AstraZeneca‘s (NYSE:AZN) once-weekly Bydureon medication. All three drugs […]
Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly Type II diabetes med approved in Europe
The European Commission has approved Novo Nordisk‘s (NYSE:NVO) once-weekly semaglutide drug, Ozempic, as a treatment for adults with Type II diabetes. The GLP-1 analogue’s label in Europe recommends that the drug is given when metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated, Novo Nordisk reported today. The E.U. agency approved Ozempic for use in a multi-dose pre-filled pen, but […]
Novo Nordisk launches two new diabetes drugs in U.S.
Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) today launched two new diabetes medications in pharmacies across the U.S. The Danish company’s Ozempic product is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist designed to boost glycemic control in adults with Type II diabetes. The injection, administered in a pre-filled pen, won FDA approval in December. Fiasp, a fast-acting mealtime insulin, is indicated for […]
Shares in Novo Nordisk sink after Q4 earnings, sales disappoint
Shares in Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) fell today after the insulin-maker missed expectations on Wall Street with its fourth quarter and full-year financial results. The Denmark-based company posted profits of $1.38 billion on sales of $4.68 billion for the 3 months ended Dec. 31, for bottom-line loss of -5% on sales loss of -5% compared with the […]
Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly diabetes injection cleared in Canada
Health Canada has approved Novo Nordisk‘s (NYSE:NVO) once-weekly semaglutide injection as an adjunct to diet and exercise that can help adults with Type II diabetes control their blood sugar levels. The drug, Ozempic, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and won FDA approval in the U.S. in December. “Many of our patients with Type II diabetes […]
Study: Most commonly-prescribed diabetes drug linked to lowest rate of compliance
Patients who take the most-commonly prescribed diabetes medication, metformin, are the least likely to adhere to a prescribed regimen, according to a study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Researchers from the University of Surrey looked at data from 1.6 million people with Type II diabetes across 48 trials and found that 30% of […]
European committee backs Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly Type II diabetes therapy
A panel of experts from the European Medicines Agency issued a positive recommendation today for Novo Nordisk‘s (NYSE:NVO) once-weekly diabetes drug, Ozempic. The committee’s recommendation will need to be endorsed by the European Commission before the insulin-maker’s product can be formally marketed in the EU. Novo Nordisk said it hopes to win final marketing authorization for […]
Companion Medical launches smart insulin pen in U.S.
Companion Medical started selling its smart insulin pen in the U.S. today, according to the San Diego, Calif.-based company. The InPen system, which combines an insulin injector pen and a smartphone app, is compatible with Eli Lilly‘s (NYSE:LLY) Humalog and Novo Nordisk‘s (NYSE:NVO) Novolog fast-acting insulin. Companion Medical’s InPen tracks insulin dosing, automatically sending data […]
Novo Nordisk inks outcomes-based contract with pharmacy benefit manager for Victoza
Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) said today that it inked a value-based contract for its Type II diabetes drug, Victoza, with pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics. The agreement is part of Prime’s CareCentered Contract program. Under the terms of the deal, Prime will evaluate Victoza’s efficacy and will reimburse commercial clients if certain measures aren’t met, according to the company. […]
Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly Type II diabetes injection wins FDA nod
Novo Nordisk‘s (NYSE:NVO) once-weekly semaglutide injection, Ozempic, has won FDA approval as a therapy for adults with Type II diabetes, the insulin-maker reported today. The injection, given in a pre-filled pen, is a GLP-1 analogue – a drug that trigger the production of insulin, while lessening appetite and food intake. The product won an unanimous […]



