Novo NordiskWithin the newly started European research project Hypo-RESOLVE, 23 leading international players from academia, industry and civil society have joined forces to find better solutions to alleviate the burden and consequences of hypoglycaemia in diabetes. Diabetes is a global epidemic, currently affecting around 60 million people in Europe. Hypoglycaemia is a common and serious complication of diabetes, particularly affecting people with diabetes on insulin therapy; very low levels of blood glucose can lead to cognitive decline, cardiovascular events and even death.

As much about hypoglycaemia remains unknown, the recently started European research project Hypo-RESOLVE (Hypoglycaemia - Redefining SOLutions for better liVEs) aims to provide researchers and clinicians with more validated data about the condition by:

  • Creating a sustainable clinical database;
  • Conducting studies to better understand the underlying mechanisms of hypoglycaemia;
  • Conducting a series of statistical analyses to define predictors and consequences of hypoglycaemia
  • Calculating the financial cost in European countries;

"Our mission within Hypo-RESOLVE is to provide an evidence-based classification of hypoglycaemia based on secure data from 100 to 150 recently conducted clinical trials," explained Dr Bastiaan de Galan, coordinator of Hypo-RESOLVE and internist at the department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, in the Netherlands. "With this statistical power, we will be able to make valid statements about the glucose thresholds below which hypoglycaemia constitutes a great risk for people living with diabetes."

Dr Stephen Gough, Global Chief Medical Officer at Novo Nordisk in Denmark and Hypo-RESOLVE project leader added: "This consortium brings together world leaders from the field of diabetes to reduce the burden of hypoglycaemia. Hypo-RESOLVE paves the way for further research on glucose-lowering interventions that will serve people living with diabetes, clinicians and healthcare companies."

The voices of people living with diabetes will be at the heart of Hypo-RESOLVE, through the establishment of a Patient Advisory Committee. It will ensure that patients' insights, opinions and wishes are taken into account across all the multiple components of the project.

"Hypoglycaemia presents a huge psychological burden for people with diabetes. We believe that the Patient Advisory Committee will help contribute to a better understanding of the disease's impact on people with diabetes and ultimately help improve their lives," said Prof Nam H. Cho, President of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). "Through this project, we also hope to strengthen public awareness of hypoglycaemia and diabetes generally."

Hypo-RESOLVE is supported with funding of 26.8 million euros from the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a joint undertaking of the European Commission and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

The project will officially kick off its activities with a first meeting in Denmark on May 16-17 2018.

Project Facts

Project acronym: Hypo-RESOLVE
Start date: 1 May 2018
Duration: 48 months
Budget: 26.8 million Euros
Coordination: Radboud University Medical Center, Dr Bastiaan de Galan
Project Lead: Novo Nordisk A/S, Dr Stephen Gough
Project Management: Eurice - European Research and Project Office GmbH, Caroline Schorn

About IMI

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is Europe's largest public-private initiative aiming to improve health by speeding up the development of, and patient access to, innovative medicines, particularly in areas where there is an unmet medical or social need. IMI facilitates collaboration between the key players involved in healthcare research, including universities, the pharmaceutical and other industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), patient organisations, and medicines regulators. It is a partnership between the European Union (represented by the European Commission) and the European pharmaceutical industry (represented by EFPIA, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations).

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 95 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat obesity, haemophilia, growth disorders and other serious chronic diseases. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 42,100 people in 79 countries and markets its products in more than 170 countries.