Takeda and Amgen begin phase III trial of cancer drug

Takeda has agreed to participate in an Amgen-led global clinical trial programme for AMG 386, a developmental anti-cancer agent.

In association with its oncology-focused subsidiary Millennium and Takeda Bio Development Centre, the firm has agreed to take responsibility of the Japanese portion of the worldwide Trinova-1 study.

The trial, which is currently in the patient enrolment stage, aims to compare the efficacy of the drug to placebo among recurrent ovarian cancer patients, with a primary endpoint of progression-free survival.

AMG 386, which functions by inhibiting interactions between angiopoietins 1 and 2 and their receptor Tie2, has already demonstrated a promising performance in earlier phase II studies.

Hiroyasu Nakamura, president of Takeda Bio, said: "We believe that this agent with a new mechanism of action will benefit women with recurrent ovarian cancer for which very few treatments are currently available."

Earlier this month, Takeda announced an agreement with Kyoto University to research new treatments in the fields of obesity and schizophrenia.