GlaxoSmithKline’s Eperzan (albiglutide) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes has been authorized in Europe. The drug employs Novozymes Biopharma’s albumin-based VELTIS half-life extension technology, which enables once per week administration of the drug.
 
Novozymes’ VELTIS technology represents a series of engineered human albumins that in combination with a drug candidate, offers the potential for control of the therapeutic half-life, which allows for reducing the dosing frequency of drugs from daily to every two weeks or monthly.
 
“The first approval for a product based on Novozymes’ VELTIS technology, and marketed by one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, marks a significant milestone for our half-life extension platform”, said Thomas Videbæk, executive vice president, business development, Novozymes. “We consider this authorization real proof that VELTIS can offer true benefits to patients, reducing the inconvenience with daily drug dosing.”