Takeda pays $2m milestone to UK firm Alizyme

Takeda has made a $2 million milestone payment to the Cambridge-based firm Alizyme.

The payment comes as Takeda starts Phase II trials of the obesity treatment cetilistat in Japan.

Alizyme chief executive Dr Richard Palmer said: “The commitment of Takeda and its development team, together with the excellent working relationship with our development team, is very encouraging for the future successful progress of cetilistat in Japan.

“With our recent announcement of successful Phase II clinical trial results in obese diabetic patients in the west, cetilistat is now poised to enter late stage development worldwide.”

Exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and market cetilistat in Japan were granted in August 2003 and so far Alizyme has received $7 million.

Total payments, in addition to royalties, could reach $35 million.

Cetilistat is designed to cause weight loss by reducing the digestion and thus the absorption of fat from the diet and could be used in the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

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