According to Novo Nordisk, degludec reduces the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia more than 35% compared with Lantus.
Bloomberg.com has quoted Novo Nordisk chief science officer Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen as saying that the focus is on winning patients as soon as they start using insulin, rather than trying to get them to switch, because diabetics tend to be loyal to a brand.
Novo Nordisk will emphasize that degludec does not need to be injected at the same time each day, unlike Lantus.
The company plans to seek regulatory approval for degludec later this year.
Reportedly, this will be Novo Nordisk’s second attempt to topple Lantus after the 2004 introduction of a similar product, Levemir.