11:36 AM EDT, 05/01/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The Danish Medicines Agency said Wednesday type 2 diabetes patients should start treatment with drugs that are "cheaper" than certain GLP-1 analogs such as Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) Ozempic and Rybelsus and Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Trulicity.

The agency said there are less expensive types of diabetes medication, such as DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, beta-cell stimulants and metformin.

"It is most rational to start treatment with the cheaper alternatives, and only those patients who cannot be treated with these should switch to treatment with GLP-1 drugs," the agency said.

The agency said that in its decision on the future subsidy for non-insulin type 2 diabetes medicine, most drugs generally keep subsidies, while certain GLP-1 analogs "get a tighter clause."

"The agency will introduce a more restrictive clause which targets the subsidy so that it only covers those patients who cannot be treated with the cheaper alternatives," according to a statement.

The changes are effective Nov. 25.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) and Eli Lilly ( LLY ) didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires.

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