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

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