Takeda Canada reacquires commercial rights for an oral type 2 diabetic treatment drug

ACTOS(R) (pioglitazone HCl) to be marketed by Takeda in Canadian Market

Takeda Canada, Inc. announced that it has reacquired the Canadian commercial rights to ACTOS(R) (pioglitazone HCl), an oral treatment for type 2 diabetes, from Eli Lilly Canada Inc. Takeda, the discoverer of ACTOS, licensed the drug to Lilly as part of a worldwide agreement in 1999.

"Reacquiring the commercial rights to ACTOS is Takeda's first opportunity to establish a commercial presence in Canada," said Daaron Dohler, general manager at Takeda Canada. "It also underscores Takeda's ongoing efforts to reinforce our global operations and build a stronger presence in North America."

ACTOS was approved by Health Canada as monotherapy to decrease insulin resistance and blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, in September 2000. Takeda has taken over responsibility for ACTOS in the Canadian market effective mid-June. The company already sells ACTOS in many other territories, including the United States, Japan and most of Europe.

 http://www.takedacanada.com/