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A new diabetes drug that is in its third series of clinical trials has been approved by the FDA for use starting sometime by mid 2009.  The drug is a laboratory made synthetic form of a hormone made by the body.  The drug, called liraglutide works exactly like the hormone, called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP 1).  The difference is that liraglutide lasts longer than the natural hormone, helping the body regulate levels of blood glucose longer and better.

Dr. Sten Madsbad, professor of endocrinology and one of the directors of the study at University of Copenhagen in Denmark believes that the use of liraglutide will help many of the millions of people who struggle with diabetes to be able to keep their symptoms under control and live longer, healthier lives.

Dr. Madsbad says that there are several ways liraglutide will do this.  “First of all, it stimulates insulin production.  It also promotes glucagon release from the pancreas and creates changes in appetite so that you will eat less.”  Glucagon is a hormone that helps manage and control levels of sugar in the blood.

There is already one medication of this type available and approved by the FDA and in use in the United States.  The medication, exenatide (Byetta) as approved for use in 2005 and is taken by injection twice per day.  Dr. John Buse, vice-president of medicine and science at the American Diabetes Association and professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina explains that Exenatide is actually a form of saliva found in the gila monster.

The only possible negative repercussion regarding liraglutide is that in a very small number of individuals there is the possibility of pancreatitis, which affected only two people in the entire study, causing nausea and stomach pain.  

Since liraglutide is in the third series of clinical trials, once this series is over, it will be ready to be prescribed to patients when released in 2009.  One of the positive aspects of liraglutide is that unlike Byetta, which has to be injected twice per day liraglutide needs to be injected only once per day.

Results of the studies and the clinical trials have researchers excited about the possibilities that liraglutide will be a big step forward in controlling diabetes.