New treatment for obesity now available in Saudi

On September 29, 2017 – Novo Nordisk has launched Saxenda® (liraglutide 3 mg) to the Saudi market. Saxenda® is the first once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for chronic weight management. It is indicated in Saudi as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) or who are overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity1.

According to World Health Organisation, around 65% of adults in Saudi are currently overweight, 28% are living with obesity2. Many of these people suffer from weight-related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, along with emotional distress and anxiety often associated with this disease2.

“Significant clinical benefits and improvements in comorbidities can be seen with a weight reduction of 5-10% of body weight,” said Khaled Al Amri, consultant of Obesity Medicine, Endocrinology Metabolism and Obesity Center, King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh. “For some patients, a treatment option like Saxenda® alongside diet and increased physical activity could be a real option for the long-term management of obesity” confirmed Al Amri.

Saxenda® was evaluated in the SCALE™ (Satiety and Clinical Adiposity−Liraglutide Evidence in Nondiabetic and Diabetic people) phase 3 clinical programme, which involved more than 5,000 people who have obesity or who are overweight with weight-related comorbidities. Trial data showed that Saxenda®, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, resulted in significantly greater weight loss in some patients than a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity alone.

“For people with obesity, it is not just about losing weight, it is about gaining health and enjoying better lives,” said Vikrant Shrotriya, VP and General Manager Novo Nordisk Gulf. “Novo Nordisk is pleased to offer a new treatment option that can help people to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss. This is an important milestone in our long-term commitment to obesity” added Shrotriya.

It is important that people living with obesity work closely with their physicians to develop sustainable strategies for chronic weight management3. When assessing treatment options, a person’s readiness to lose weight should be considered along with their cardiovascular disease profile, dietary habits and concomitant diseases4.