On December 23, 2024, the FDA approved the first generic Victoza (liraglutide injection) 18 milligram/3 milliliter, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It is used for improving glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in combination with diet and exercise.
So, Why Does the FDA Granting this Approval Matter So Much?
Roughly, more than 537 million adults (20 to 79 years) were living with diabetes in 2021, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). This figure is anticipated to increase to 783 million by the end of 2045. Approximately 90 to 95% of all diabetes cases globally are type 2 diabetes (T2D). In 2021, diabetes was responsible for 6.7 million deaths across the world and a healthcare expenditure of USD 966 billion.
So How Does Getting a GLP -1 Injection Work?
GLP-1 receptor agonists replicate a hormone that naturally occurs in the body. The medicine in the body after eating enhances insulin production and is a natural way of reducing blood sugar levels. It prevents long-term effects of heart failure or even kidney disease.
This new generic type of medicine is surely effective for diabetes patient as they don’t need to worry about compromising with quality or the effectiveness of their drug.
The Bigger Picture: Role of FDA:
FDA is actively looking into all issues about the affordability and availability of medicine. This approval is in furtherance of their goal of making complex medicine available in generic forms. Generic medicine helps lessen the burden of treatment costs while fostering competition that leads to fresh advancements and broader access to healthcare.
Patients suffering from type 2 drugs would need better medications to find solutions to their problems.
Important Safety Information:
This approval carries a lot of excitement but every patient should first talk to their doctor before commencing the treatment. A Boxed Warning has been placed on the drug for the risk of thyroid C cell tumors. The use of this drug is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome 2.
The most commonly reported side effects in the clinical trials for liraglutide injection are:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- dyspepsia
- constipation
- decreased appetite
What It Means For Patients?
This is about all and not just about the approval of some medication; it is a great relief for individuals who have been fighting all these years to get cost-effective medicines for diabetes. A shift in the provision of alternatives is being initiated as the FDA leads the way with generics and patients with chronic diseases can hope for a more positive outlook.
Beginning of a Fresh Chapter in the History of Diabetes Treatment:
With the approval of the first generic, once-weekly GLP-1 treatment, we witness the dawn of a new era in diabetes treatment. It also emphasizes the need for, providing essential treatment options to as many individuals as possible. This achievement rekindles hope in the hearts of 1 in 10 families across the world while laying the foundation for more diabetes therapeutic advances in the future.
What It Means For Patients?
This is about all and not just about the approval of some medication; it is a great relief for individuals who have been fighting all these years to get cost-effective medicines for diabetes. A shift in the provision of alternatives is being initiated as the FDA leads the way with generics and patients with chronic diseases can hope for a more positive outlook.