03 Nov Early Weight Loss Response To Liraglutide 3.0 mg Predicts Continued Success

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr Todd Hobbs

Dr Todd Hobbs MD
Chief medical officer (CMO)
Novo Nordisk in North America

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: There is little data that describes weight loss and other outcomes separately in early weight loss responders and early weight loss non-responders. Early weight loss, whether through lifestyle or pharmacotherapy, can be a good predictor of long-term weight loss. Consequently, all recently-approved weight loss medication labels include ‘stopping rules’ for discontinuing medication if a threshold weight loss is not achieved by a specified milestone. Bottom line, it’s important patients don’t continue on a therapy that isn’t working for them. This makes this form of research important from a clinical standpoint but also in the larger obesity treatment paradigm – including payers and how pharmaceutical treatments are labeled.

MedicalResearch.com: WhWhat are the main findings?

Response: Among early responders to liraglutide 3.0 mg, greater mean weight loss and greater proportions achieving weight-loss thresholds were observed. Early responders to liraglutide 3.0 mg treatment and placebo demonstrated greater improvements across a range of efficacy outcomes compared to early non-responders after completing 56 weeks.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Among early responders to liraglutide 3.0 mg, greater mean weight loss, greater proportions achieving weight-loss thresholds, and generally greater improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors and HRQoL scores were observed compared with early non-responders.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: When it comes to designing future studies looking at anti-obesity agents, we need to work toward establishing the ability to tailor treatments to individual patients. This will require continuing effort in identifying early responders but also broadening these efforts to predict who in a specific population may respond best to what treatments.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Disclosure:  Study supported by Novo Nordisk.

Citation:

Obesity 2016  October 2016 abstract:

Results from pooled Phase 3a SCALE™ clinical trial data – Early weight loss with liraglutide 3.0 mg predicts 1-year weight loss and is associated with improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on November 3, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD