Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness Norgine and Takeda announce the new drug application approval of Oblean (cetilistat) tablets 120mg in Japan

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Norgine and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited has announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved the New Drug Application (NDA) of OBLEAN Tablets 120mg for the treatment of obesity with complications.

OBLEAN is a lipase inhibitor discovered by UK-based Alizyme Therapeutics Limited. Norgine acquired all rights to the product from Alizyme in October 2009. In 2003 Takeda acquired the rights for development and commercialisation for Japan.

OBLEAN inhibits the activity of lipase, a lipolytic enzyme, secreted by the digestive tract and pancreas, and blocks the absorption of fat from the gut, resulting in not only reduced body weight, but also reduced visceral fat and improved parameters related to lifestyle diseases. OBLEAN is the first therapy that controls lipid absorption approved in Japan for the treatment of obesity with complications.

The NDA submission is based on the results of three phase 3 clinical trials in obese patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia: a 52-week placebo-controlled, double-blind study to evaluate the efficacy and safety, and two open-label studies to evaluate safety, 24-week and 52-week respectively. The results of the 52-week placebo-controlled, double-blind study demonstrate that OBLEAN 120mg three times daily is superior to placebo in the primary endpoint, with a mean reduction in body weight from baseline of -2.776% with OBLEAN versus -1.103% with placebo (p=0.0020).[1] Greater reductions in HbA1c and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also observed in patients treated with OBLEAN[1], compared to placebo. In all these three studies, OBLEAN showed a good safety profile and was well tolerated. [1, 2, 3]

In filing for this approval, Takeda utilised the Preliminary Assessment of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA).*

Paul Pay, VP Corporate and Business Development at Norgine said; “Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor in the development of many chronic diseases and we are pleased that Takeda has obtained manufacturing and marketing approval by the regulatory authorities in Japan.”

“Obesity is an increasingly important issue in Japan with limited treatment options” said Nancy Joseph-Ridge M.D., General Manager of Takeda’s Pharmaceutical Development Division. “The approval of OBLEAN, with its novel mechanism of action, provides options for this unmet medical need to patients with obesity, with complications of both type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia in Japan.”

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can’t produce enough insulin, or when the insulin that is produced doesn’t work properly. If untreated, it can cause very serious health problems.

HbA1c

HbA1c is a term often used in relation to diabetes. HbA1c occurs when haemoglobin joins with glucose in the blood. Haemoglobin molecules make up the red blood cells in the blood stream. When glucose sticks to these molecules it forms a glycosylated haemoglobin molecule, also known as A1c and HbA1c. The more glucose found in the blood the more glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) will be present.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol

LDL collects in the walls of blood vessels, causing the blockages of atherosclerosis. Higher LDL levels put people at greater risk for a heart attack from a sudden blood clot in an artery narrowed by atherosclerosis.

Dosage and Administration

Usually, for adults, a dose of 120 mg is orally administered, three times a day, immediately after each meal.

Indication

Obesity (limited to patients with both type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, and with a BMI≥25 kg/m2 in spite of dietary treatment and/or exercise therapy)