Novo Nordisk Rejects Public Citizen Assertion on Victoza

Novo Nordisk A/S (NOVOB) said it rejects assertions by the U.S. group Public Citizen that the diabetes drug Victoza should be pulled from the market.

“Novo Nordisk is committed to patient safety and rejects Public Citizen’s assertion that the benefits of Victoza are outweighed by its risks,” the Bagsvaerd, Denmark-based company said in an e-mailed statement late yesterday.

Public Citizen said yesterday the drug puts patients at higher risk of thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and other problems.

“In the two years since Victoza was approved, Novo Nordisk has continued to work closely with the FDA and the medical community to monitor the benefits and appropriate use of Victoza,” Novo Nordisk said. “Our experience in those two years does not support the Public Citizen call to deprive patients of the benefits of Victoza.”

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Phil Serafino at pserafino@bloomberg.net