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www.fdanews.com/articles/61079-takeda-begins-trial-of-actos-arb-combination

TAKEDA BEGINS TRIAL OF ACTOS-ARB COMBINATION

July 21, 2006

Takeda Pharmaceutical has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Takeda Global Research & Development Center, has started a Phase III clinical program of fixed-dose combination product Actos (pioglitazone HCl) and Takeda's investigational drug TAK-536 in the U.S.

Actos is being marketed in more than 60 countries, including in the U.S., and is indicated for patients with Type 2 diabetes for improving insulin resistance. TAK-536 is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) currently under development for treatment of hypertension in the U.S. and Europe.

This combined product is expected to provide additional glucose-lowering effects compared with Actos alone, while also offering anti-hypertensive and multi-organ protective action derived from the ARB.