New Diabetes Drug Works Well in Trial

Weight loss was also seen in the trial, which ran for one year. Participants taking liraglutide lost an average of 4.4 pounds, while those taking glimepiride gained an average of 2.2 pounds.

"We want more medications that have this type of profile," Garber said. "It is very well-tolerated, has few side effects and can lead to weight loss. Most diabetes medications now produce weight gain, and that is very discouraging to our patients."

One shadow is a possible risk of pancreatitis, a condition which was reported in two people in the liraglutide trial and whose symptoms include nausea, vomiting and belly pain.

But Garber maintained that "there is unlikely to be a major pancreatitis concern, because it is so rare."

A contest may develop between liraglutide and a once-a-week formulation of exenatide, Buse said. The longer-lasting exenatide version is expected to reach the U.S. market in about a year. It requires a standard hypodermic needle for injection, while liraglutide can be given through a small, ultrafine needle.

Several other GLP-1 drugs are in trials now and might be approved before long, Buse said. "It will be a great opportunity for patients to have so many choices," he added.

More information

Today's oral medications for diabetes are described by the American Diabetes Association.

SOURCES: Alan Garber, M.D., Ph.D., professor, medicine, biochemistry and cell and molecular biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston; John Buse, M.D., president, medicine and science, American Diabetes Association, Atlanta; Sten Madsbad, M.D., professor, endocrinology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Sept. 25, 2008,The Lancet, online