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Takeda Disagrees With Orexigen Over Data Disclosure

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This article is more than 9 years old.

(Updated)

On Tuesday Orexigen sparked a firestorm by disclosing the interim results of an ongoing clinical trial of its weight loss drug Contrave. Takeda, which markets the drug in the US, has released a statement in which it states that it does not support the release of the interim data.

Here is the Takeda statement:

"Pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement between Takeda and Orexigen, Orexigen has the sole right and responsibility for the drafting, prosecution and issuance of Orexigen patent filings.  Takeda respects the need to vigorously protect intellectual property relating to pharmaceutical products; however, Takeda does not support the issuance of patents that contain and disclose interim data results of an ongoing clinical trial.  Takeda is working with the academic leadership of the Light trial (Data Monitoring Committee, Executive Steering Committee) and the FDA to determine the most appropriate next steps for the LIGHT trial."

Update:

And here is Orexigen's mildly updated statement about the events:

Orexigen conducted a large cardiovascular outcomes trial in order to file for approval, with the study planned to continue after approval to serve a postmarketing regulatory requirement for additional risk exclusion. We observed an unexpected result in the interim analysis. We filed patent applications based on the results in order to preserve the potential for additional intellectual property. Prior to approval in September 2014, the FDA informed us it had determined that the Light Study would not serve as the postmarketing requirement for Contrave; an entirely new trial would be required. At that point, the company decided to continue with the patent prosecution. The second cardiovascular outcomes trial is expected to start later this year. We are confident that this trial can be enrolled and conducted successfully and we look forward to the results, which are expected by 2022.

On March 3 2015 the USPTO published an issued patent and supporting documentation, and we believed it was appropriate and necessary to make sure this information was equally available to all investors.
Orexigen proactively discussed the challenges inherent in using interim data from ongoing trials for regulatory approvals, and has been, and continues to be, committed to working with FDA and others to support its regulatory obligations to thoroughly explore Contrave’s therapeutic profile. Just as important, Orexigen is committed to its obligation to patients to fully explore the drug’s profile.

Orexigen is also committed to simultaneously meeting its obligations to other regulatory authorities in the U.S., such as the SEC, and abroad, such as the EMA, which are relevant to, and have authority over, its business. The Company is similarly committed to meeting its fiduciary duties to shareholders.

I will have much more to report about this story soon.