Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) announced that it has started a phase 3 clinical study of ATL-962, a treatment for obesity and related diseases.

ATL-962 was discovered and created by Alizyme plc (Alizyme), which inhibits pancreatic lipases and is expected to be an agent to treat obesity and related diabetes or dyslipidemia through its mechanism of action which causes weight loss by reducing digestion and thus the absorption of fat from the diet.

Takeda has started the Japanese phase 3 double-blind study based on the results of Takeda's previous phase 2 study in Japan.

In August 2003, Takeda started to evaluate the European phase 2 clinical data of ATL-962 and concluded an agreement with Alizyme in January 2004, Takeda acquired exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and market ATL-962 in Japan, for the treatment of obesity and its associated conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes. Under the agreement, Takeda is responsible for development and commercialization in Japan, while it is to pay milestones for development and commercialization of ATL-962 by Takeda in Japan, including the royalties on future sales of this product.

"We are very pleased to succeed in advancing the development of ATL-962 to the phase 3 clinical study," said Masaomi Miyamoto, Ph.D., general manager of Takeda's Pharmaceutical Development Division. "It is said that obesity is closely related to and a serious risk factor for diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia and the need for treatment of obesity has attracted considerable social attention. We will continue to speed the development of ATL-962 to provide it to patients with obesity as soon as possible".