Eli Lilly, Takeda end co-development of ruboxistaurin

Eli Lilly and Takeda terminated a co-development agreement in Japan for Eli Lilly's experimental compound ruboxistaurin. The drug was being studied for the treatment of microvascular complications from diabetes.

The companies explained Thursday that the decision was made after data from Phase II trials of the drug, in diabetic peripheral neuropathy and in diabetic macular oedema, failed to meet pre-specified criteria for further development. Takeda and Eli Lilly signed the co-development agreement in 2003.

Separately, Takeda announced that its hypertension compound TAK-536 entered mid-stage testing in Japan, Bloomberg reports. Masaomi Miyamoto, general manager of the company's pharmaceutical development division, noted that "we are aiming to vigorously accelerate the development of TAK-536 for the earliest possible launch." He added that the investigational angiotensin receptor blocker is expected to be a successor to Blopress (candesartan cilexetil), which had sales of 55.4 billion yen ($480 million) in the three months ended June 30.

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