Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) announced that on July 31, 2006, Takeda Global Research & Development Centre (Europe), Ltd. (TGRD Europe) was granted a marketing authorisation for Competact, a fixed combination tablet of ACTOS (pioglitazone HCl) 15mg and metformin HCl 850mg from the European Commission. TGRD Europe submitted that application on February 28, 2005, and received a positive opinion on June 2, 2006 from The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

ACTOS directly targets insulin resistance, a condition where the body does not efficiently use the insulin it produces, and metformin HCl acts primarily by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver. These medications work in combination to help patients with type 2 diabetes manage their blood glucose levels.

"We are very pleased with this approval of Competact, which enables us to provide an additional treatment option for the patients with type 2 diabetes and healthcare providers who treat them." said Dr. Masaomi Miyamoto, General Manager of Pharmaceutical Development Division of Takeda. "This approval represents one of the achievements in our initiatives aimed for maximizing the product value of ACTOS and also enhancing our franchise in the diabetes field in European markets toward the future."