Takeda to conduct phase III trial of new obesity drug

Takeda is to move ahead with phase III clinical studies of a new compound which it has identified as a potentially promising treatment for obesity.

The pharmaceutical company is to conduct further research into the combination of pramlintide and metreleptin following encouraging findings from its extended phase II studies.

It was shown in these trials that the combination therapy was able to help patients to achieve weight loss which the company described as “sustained and robust”.

As a result, both Takeda and its collaborative partner Amylin have suggested that the compound could prove a useful option in the face of growing global obesity problems.

Dr Nancy Joseph-Ridge, general manager of Takeda’s pharmaceutical development division, added: “This potential new therapy continues to build on our commitment to the management of obesity.”

Last week, the healthcare firm commenced a new phase III trial in order to support its applications for regulatory approval of Hematide, which is a treatment for anaemia in chronic renal failure.