The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted liraglutide (Victoza™) for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to achieve glycaemic control:

• in combination with metformin or a sulphonylurea, in patients with insufficient glycaemic control despite maximal tolerated dose of monotherapy with metformin or sulphonylurea;
• in combination with metformin and a sulphonylurea or metformin and a thiazolidinedione in patients with insufficient glycaemic control despite dual therapy.

The drug advice notes that liraglutide is restricted to use as a third-line antidiabetic agent, as the economic case for second-line use, added to metformin in place of a sulphonylurea, has not been demonstrated.