Takeda's investigational diabetes drug helps reduce HbA1C levels

DEERFIELD, Ill. — An investigational diabetes therapy made by Takeda helped lower HbA1C levels among patients with Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said.

The mid-stage clinical trial, which included 426 patients, showed TAK-875, a selective agonist of GPR40 — one of the orphan G-protein-coupled receptors expressed in pancreatic islet cells — demonstrated its ability to stimulate insulin in a glucose-dependent manner over a 12-week period, with minimum risk of hypoglycemia. Patients were either given doses ranging from 6.25-mg to 200-mg a day or 4-mg of placebo glimepiride.

"As glucose control in many patients with Type 2 diabetes continues to remain suboptimal, it is important to work to identify new mechanisms of action in an effort to improve treatment options," said Thomas Strack, development therapeutic area head of metabolic at Takeda. "Because of its observed ability to potently stimulate insulin secretion and improve glycemic control with less or no hypoglycemia, these data further support TAK-875 as a potential therapy for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in the future."

These data were presented at the American Diabetes Association 71st Annual Scientific Sessions and published in The Lancet. The drug now is moving forward into phase-3 clinical development.

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