Takeda's GPR40 agonist for diabetes promising in Ph II trial

TAK-875 is currently in phase III trials in the US, Europe, Japan and Latin America, and is claimed to be the most advanced drug in the GPR40 agonist class, according to Takeda.

The orally-active drug works by boosting insulin secretion, but only in the presence of blood glucose. This suggests it may be able to help control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics with little risk of hypoglycaemia if levels of glucose in the blood are normal.

The Phase II trial randomised 426 patients with type 2 diabetes that was inadequately treated with metformin or diet and exercise alone to receive one of five doses of TAK-875, placebo or glimepiride.