A Study of Aleglitazar in Monotherapy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Who Are Drug-Naïve to Anti-Hyperglycemic Therapy

• Change in lipids [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Change in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Responder rates, defined as target HbA1c: < 7.0%, < 6.5% at Week 26 [ Time Frame: 26 weeks ]
• Change in homeostatic index of insulin sensitivity (by Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Sensitivity [HOMA-IS]) [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Change in homeostatic index of beta cell function (by HOMA-BFC) [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Change in markers of insulin sensitivity/cardiovascular risk [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Safety: Incidence of adverse events [ Time Frame: approximately 30 weeks ]

• Change in lipids [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Change in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Responder rates, defined as target HbA1c: < 7.0%, < 6.5% at Week 26 [ Time Frame: 26 weeks ]
• Change in homeostatic index of insulin sensitivity (by HOMA-IS) [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Change in homeostatic index of beta cell function (by HOMA-BFC) [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Change in markers of insulin sensitivity/cardiovascular risk [ Time Frame: from baseline to Week 26 ]
• Safety: Incidence of adverse events [ Time Frame: approximately 30 weeks ]

• Drug: aleglitazar
  150 mcg orally daily
• Drug: placebo
  matching aleglitazar placebo orally daily

• Experimental: Aleglitazar
  Intervention: Drug: aleglitazar
• Placebo Comparator: Placebo
  Intervention: Drug: placebo

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patient, >/= 18 years of age
• Diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus within 12 months prior to screening
• Drug-naïve (defined as no anti-hyperglycemic medication for at least 12 weeks prior to screening and for not longer than 3 consecutive months at any time in the past)
• HbA1c >/= 7% and </= 9.5% at screening or within 4 weeks prior to screening and at pre-randomization visit
• Fasting plasma glucose </= 13.3 mmol/L (</= 240 mg/dL) at pre-randomization visit
• Agreement to maintain diet and exercise habits implemented during the run-in phase during the full course of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women, women intending to become pregnant during the study period, currently lactating women, or women of child-bearing potential not using highly effective, medically approved birth control methods

• Diagnosis or history of:

  1. Type 1 diabetes mellitus, diabetes resulting from pancreatic injury, or secondary forms of diabetes
  2. Acute metabolic diabetic complications such as ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma within the past 6 months
• Any previous treatment with thiazolidinedione or with a dual peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) agonist
• Any body weight lowering or lipoprotein-modifying therapy (e.g. fibrates) within 12 weeks prior to screening with the exception of stable (>= 1 month) statin therapy
• Prior intolerance to fibrate
• Triglycerides (fasting) > 4.5 mmol/L (> 400 mg/dL) at screening or within 4 weeks prior to screening
• Clinically apparent liver disease
• Anemia at or within 4 weeks prior to screening
• Inadequate renal function
• Symptomatic congestive heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-IV at screening
• Myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome or transient ischemic attack/stroke within 6 months prior to screening visit
• Known macular edema at screening or prior to screening visit
• Diagnosed and/or treated malignancy (except for basal cell skin cancer, in situ carcinoma of the cervix, or in situ prostate cancer) within the past 5 years
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• History of active substance abuse (including alcohol) within the past 2 years