The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) seems set to extend its approval for the use of liraglutide used for the treatment of type2 diabetes, by stimulating the release of insulin, resulting in appetite reduction and therefore food intake by slowing gastric emptying.

Draft guidance from NICE has deemed liraglutide a cost and clinically-effective option when given as a daily 1.2mg injection with two oral anti-diabetic tablets.

However, NICE has asked for more information about using it in combination with only one anti-diabetic pill. The draft guidance also does not support giving higher doses of 1.8 mg.

The drug, marketed under the label Victoza by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, belongs to a class of diabetes medication called GLP-1. It has been available in the UK since July last year.

Dr Carole Longson, Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director at NICE said, "We are pleased to recommend liraglutide 1.2 mg daily as a clinically and cost effective treatment option as part of triple therapy regimens for some patients under restrictions".

Novo Nordisk revealed it was propelled by NICE's preliminary view and anticipated more discussions before the institute published its final guidance, which is due in June.