World's Largest Study on Insulin Therapy Completes Recruitment With 60,000 Patients

ZURICH, July 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Novo Nordisk announced the landmark recruitment of the 60,000th patient in the A1chieve(R) study - an observational study designed to investigate the effects of modern insulins in the management of type 2 diabetes.[1]

Spanning 28 countries across 4 continents and involving more than 3300 physicians, A1chieve(R) is set to be the world's largest observational study in insulin therapy.

Approximately 70 percent of the world's 285 million people with diabetes are living in these 28 emerging countries where there is a rising need and interest to look at differences in physician decisions in the management of diabetes.[2]

"Multinational observational studies like A1chieve(R) provide valuable insights in the way current therapies are applied when it comes to varying cultural, economic and epidemiological circumstances," said Philip Home, Professor of Diabetes Medicine at Newcastle University England and Chair of the A1chieve(R) Global Advisory Board.

In order to mimic the natural secretion of insulin in the body, commercially available insulin preparations are used in different ways (regimens) based on an individual's need and prevailing local practices. However it is important to evaluate these different regimens in a real life setting.

"Once completed A1chieve(R) will provide locally relevant information on the effective use of modern insulins across different regimens. This information could be further useful to inform and improve the local guidelines on the management of type 2 diabetes" added Professor Home.

Jesper H0iland, Senior Vice President, Novo Nordisk Region International Operations A/S said "The A1chieve(R) study is another major initiative demonstrating our commitment as leaders in the field of diabetes care. Our vast experience and unmatched presence in the emerging countries has enabled us to carry out such a unique and large scale research activity of clinical importance."

The results of this multinational study will be available in 2011.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 28,500 employees in 81 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For more information, visit http://www.novonordisk.com.

    Further information:

    References

    1. Siddharth N. Shah, Leon Litwak, Jihad Haddad, Praful N. Chakkarwar and
    Issam Hajjaji. The A1chieve(R) study: a 60,000-person, global,
    prospective, observational study of basal, meal, and biphasic insulin
    analogs in daily clinical practice. Diabetes Research and Clinical
    Practice 88S (2010).

    2. IDF Diabetes Atlas 4th Edition, International Diabetes Federation,
    2009. http://www.diabetesatlas.org.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk