Roche has announced that it will start phase III clinical investigations for aleglitazar, its innovative PPAR co-agonist R1439 which is uniquely designed to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in high risk patients with type 2 diabetes.
The phase III program is anticipated to start in the second half of 2009.
SYNCHRONY, a placebo-controlled dose ranging study in type 2 diabetes patients, showed that aleglitazar had a balanced synergistic effect on both lipid and glucose control with a good safety and tolerability profile in patients.
Jean-Jacques Garaud, Global Head of Development, Pharmaceuticals Division, Roche, said: “Roche is confident that aleglitazar has the potential to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this high-risk patient group and is therefore committed to pursuing its rapid development.”