Furiex Pharmaceuticals Confirms Takeda Launches LIOVEL® LD and LIOVEL® HD, a Fixed Dose Combination of NESINA® and ACTOS® for Type 2 Diabetes in Japan

September 20, 2011 - Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: FURX) confirmed that Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") has launched two dosages of LIOVEL®, a fixed dose combination tablet of NESINA® (alogliptin) and ACTOS® (pioglitazone HCL), in Japan for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Furiex developed NESINA, which is a member of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibitor class, in collaboration with Takeda's wholly-owned subsidiary, Takeda San Diego, Inc. LIOVEL LD and LIOVEL HD contain 25 mg alogliptin/15 mg pioglitazone and 25 mg alogliptin/30 mg pioglitazone, respectively.

"We are very pleased with Takeda's launch of LIOVEL in Japan, a new product using the drug NESINA," said June Almenoff, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief medical officer of Furiex. "This launch adds to Furiex's revenue stream and confirms our strategy of partnering drug candidates in return for royalty payments." 

Under Furiex's agreement with Takeda, this launch does not trigger a milestone payment to Furiex. However, Furiex is entitled to receive royalty payments on sales of LIOVEL... Furiex Pharmaceuticals' Press Release - Takeda Pharmaceutical's Press Release -