OZEMPIC® is now listed on the Alberta provincial formulary for adults living with type 2 diabetes

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 3, 2019 /CNW/ - Novo Nordisk is pleased to announce Ozempic^® (semaglutide injection) is now publicly reimbursed in the province of Alberta. Ozempic^® is a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated alongside diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes when metformin is inappropriate.¹ Ozempic^® can also be used with metformin, sulfonylurea and basal insulin with metformin.¹

"I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Being told you have diabetes is a defining day that impacts every minute of the rest of your life. It's a disease with incredible stigma and misunderstanding," said Kerry Rasmussen of Calgary, Alberta. "To help combat my diabetes, I was prescribed Ozempic^®. For me, the results have been incredible. I have more energy and more time to spend with my family. I started to play rugby again - at the age of 46! Today, my son can put his arms all the way around me. I know I have a lot of life left to live. I have no doubt enhanced access to Ozempic^® will help people living with type 2 diabetes across Alberta."

This announcement follows the regulatory approval of Ozempic^® in January of 2018. Ozempic^® was extensively studied in the SUSTAIN clinical trial program, which involved more than 8,000 adults with type 2 diabetes.¹ In the SUSTAIN program, Ozempic^® was studied in combination with oral-antidiabetic agents and basal insulin.¹

"Diabetes is a significant public health issue across Alberta. It's estimated over 1.1 million Albertans has diabetes or prediabetes. By 2026, diabetes rates are expected to increase by 50 per cent in our province," said Dr. Stuart Ross, endocrinologist at LMC Healthcare and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary. "When not managed properly, diabetes can cause serious, but preventable health problems. Having public access to effective treatment options, like a once-weekly semaglutide injection, is essential for Albertans living with type 2 diabetes." 

"Type 2 diabetes impacts a person's quality of life, and if blood glucose levels remain high, it can also be life-threatening," says Vicky Chan, Vice President, Clinical Development, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, Novo Nordisk Canada. "We believe that Ozempic^® has the potential to further improve the treatment of adults living with type 2 diabetes and we thank the government of Alberta for their commitment to offering Canadians with type 2 diabetes innovative treatment options."

About Ozempic^®
Ozempic^® is a once-weekly analogue of human GLP-1 designed to mimic natural sugar metabolism by stimulating insulin and suppressing glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.¹ Ozempic^® will be available in a prefilled pen, based on the latest generation of Novo Nordisk prefilled devices.

Ozempic^® had a well-tolerated profile across the SUSTAIN clinical trial program with the most common adverse events being generally mild to moderate gastrointestinal disorders, which diminished over time.¹ 

For information about Ozempic^®, including important safety information, please visit NovoNordisk.ca or Ozempic.ca.

About the SUSTAIN clinical trial program
SUSTAIN is a global clinical trial program for Ozempic^® comprised of phase 3a clinical trials and a cardiovascular outcomes trial, involving more than 8,000 adults with type 2 diabetes.¹

Ozempic^® demonstrated superior glycemic control versus other treatments: sitagliptin (SUSTAIN 2) and dulaglutide (SUSTAIN 7).^1,2 The SUSTAIN 7 trial included 1201 patients and was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of Ozempic^® 0.5mg and 1mg once weekly versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg once weekly (SUSTAIN 7).¹

Ozempic^® demonstrated cardiovascular safety in SUSTAIN 6. In this trial, there was a 26% cardiovascular risk reduction in Ozempic^® treated patients with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk, regardless of event history, gender or age.¹ 

About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat obesity, hemophilia, growth disorders and other serious chronic diseases. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 41,700 people in 77 countries and markets its products in more than 165 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.ca, Twitter or YouTube.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.