Liraglutide: A novel therapy for type 2 diabetes——Report of "Diabetes Dialogue" International Forum

Diabetes Dialogue is an international forum of latest cutting-edge research on diabetes. The major topics in the 5th event in 2008 were the novel targets in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In particular, the latest developments in incretin-based therapies, especially glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) -based therapies, and their effects on the β-cells have been provided. Studies suggested that type 2 diabetes is characterized by progressively deteriorated β-cell function with the presence of insulin resistance. Owing to its glucose-dependant glucose lowering effect and the effect on improvement of β-cell function, GLP-1 has become the novel target of therapies. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 analogue developed by Novo Nordisk, is one of the novel therapies in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Many studies have demonstrated that liraglutide showed both an efficacious and sustained effect on glycemic control and a significant improvement of 13-cell function. As a result, recently the role of GLP-1 or GLP-1 analogue in the management of type 2 diabetes has gained more popularity and liraglutide is considered as a promising drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2;  Islet β-cells;  Glucagon-like peptide-1