Takeda has signed a global licensing and research collaboration agreement with South Korean company LG Life Sciences to discover, develop and commercialize anti-obesity drugs, the firms announced March 30.

Under the deal, LG "will deploy its capabilities in drug discovery including medicinal chemistry research and pharmacological evaluation, while Takeda will be responsible for conducting subsequent research, development and commercialization," the companies said.

Takeda will be granted exclusive marketing rights to the compounds except in South Korea and Vietnam and semi-exclusive rights for India.

The Japanese company will provide LG with upfront payment and research funding, as well as milestone payments for research, development and commercialization that could exceed $100 million. LG also will receive royalty payments on sales following commercialization of the compounds. Other financial terms were not disclosed.

LG's marketed products include the antibiotic Factive (gemifloxacin), which is licensed in the U.S. to Oscient Pharmaceuticals.

According to Takeda President Yasuchika Hasegawa, one of the firm's "core therapeutic areas for R&D is anti-atherosclerosis related diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and we are focusing on the successful launch of anti-obesity, which is centered among these diseases, through in-house research and also the alliance and in-licensing."

"We expect that this collaboration with LGLS will accelerate our strategies for this therapeutic area," he added.

Takeda recently enhanced its anti-atherosclerosis portfolio with the acquisition of U.K.-based Paradigm Therapeutics, which has novel drugs in its pipeline for diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity (Also see "Takeda Strengthens Global Research Infrastructure With Paradigm Acquisition" - Pink Sheet, 12 March, 2007.).

The Japanese firm also announced two other development and marketing deals, with CanBas and 3M, March 30.

The agreement with Japan-based CanBas includes the Phase I investigational cancer compound CBP501 and its related compounds. Takeda will have exclusive rights for development, manufacturing and marketing except for the U.S., where the companies will share development and promotional responsibilities.

The company acquired full rights to develop and commercialize the immune response modifier molecule R-851 for topical cervical high-risk human papillomavirus infection and cervical dysplasia from 3M.

In March 2005, Takeda and 3M signed an agreement to codevelop and jointly market R-851 in the U.S. and Europe. Under the new agreement, Takeda will gain full rights for R-851, currently in Phase II, for those indications, and 3M will receive certain development milestones and a royalty upon commercialization.

- Brooke McManus (b.mcmanus@elsevier.com)

This article is reprinted from "The Pink Sheet" DAILY, March 30, 2007

Takeda Inks Deal To Develop Anti-Obesity Drugs With LG Life Sciences

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