Better Health, Brighter Future
Developing as an international pharmaceutical company: 2000-
In order to concentrate putting management resources into pharmaceutical businesses, in 2000, Takeda divested its animal health business, bulk vitamin business, urethane chemicals business, food business, agricultural business, and life-environment business as a part of the 2001-2005 Mid-Term Growth Strategy.
In 2002, Takeda Pharma GmbH and its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Takeda Pharma Ges.m.b.H in Austria and Takeda Pharma AG in Switzerland, became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Takeda Europe Holdings B.V. The same year, Takeda Pharma Ireland Limited was established to strengthen Takeda's global manufacturing network. This bulk pharmaceutical plant was later integrated into Takeda Ireland Limited in 2009.
In 2005, U.S. bio-venture Syrrx, Inc. was integrated into Takeda's global R&D network and currently operates under the name Takeda California, Inc. Syrrx Inc. possessed the world's best high-throughput X-ray crystallography technology for analyzing proteins at the time, and the integration of Syrrx Inc. represented the first expansion of Takeda's drug discovery program outside of Japan.
In 2005, Rozerem (generic name: ramelteon) was launched in the U.S. having a different mechanism of action to conventional insomnia treatments. It acts on melatonin receptors to induce a state close to physiologically natural sleep. Since the drug promotes sleep without needing to suppress anxiety or sedate, it was expected to show a good safety profile.
In 2006, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Europe Limited was established in the U.K. to lead operations and accelerate strategies across Europe with a mid- to long-term perspective.
The completion of new home offices in the United States for both Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America and the Takeda Global R&D Center in 2006 was a great achievement in terms of continuing to strengthen our presence in North America and fortify our operations in the U.S.
In 2006, Takeda published an integrated annual report incorporating non-financial information about its initiatives on human rights, the environment, and communities, in addition to financial information.
To ensure the disclosure to stakeholders was as full as possible, Takeda also compiled the CSR Data Book. Available only in PDF and e-book format out of consideration for the environment, the CSR Data Book contained further details about the CSR information found in the Annual Report in a re-edited form: CSR Data Book
In 2007, through the integration of Paradigm Therapeutics and its subsidiary in Singapore, Takeda further enhanced its multi-IND engines. Paradigm Therapeutics Ltd. was a bio-venture established by researchers of the University of Cambridge in 1999. Paradigm already developed a promising pipeline of novel drug discovery targets and compounds that overlap with Takeda's core therapeutic areas. Paradigm Therapeutics Ltd. currently goes under the names of Takeda Cambridge Limited (TCB) and Takeda Singapore Pte. Limited (TSP).
Through the 2008 integration of TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., Takeda reinforced its marketing and development functions in the U.S., as well as further promoting efficiencies throughout its business operations. In agreement with Abbott Laboratories, TAP became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda and was merged into Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. (TPNA), and then subsequently TAP's development function was integrated into Takeda Global Research & Development Center Inc. (TGRD).
In 2008, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was integrated. Millennium is one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies, possessing a strong R&D pipeline in the oncology area. The company is a pioneer in the field of protein homeostasis research. By leveraging the complementary strengths of Millennium and Takeda, we could benefit from considerable synergies, both from Millennium's excellence in knowledge, technology and experience in the oncology area.
In 2008, Takeda Pharmaceuticals (Asia Pacific) Pte. Limited (TPAP) was established in Singapore. It is responsible for the strategic and commercial operations in Australia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Singapore. Fully integrated into the global development organization, Takeda Clinical Research Singapore (currently operating under the name TDC Asia) serves as a regional hub for non-oncology clinical development. TDC Asia seeks to bring innovative products to people through a pipeline that includes compounds in a variety of therapeutic areas.
Dexilant (generic name: dexlansoprazole) launched in the U.S. in 2009, is the first proton pump inhibitor specifically designed for the release of medicine in two stages over time. It has a powerful and sustained suppressant effect on gastric acid secretion.
Launched in the U.S. in 2009, and discovered by Teijin Pharma Limited, Uloric (generic name: febuxostat) is a treatment for hyperuricemia in patients with gout. It lowers the level of uric acid in patients’ blood by blocking the enzyme that is responsible for the synthesis of uric acid.
In 2009, Takeda participated in the United Nations Global Compact, supporting the 10 principles relating to "Human Rights", "Labor", "Environment" and "Anti- Corruption”. Takeda has since incorporated them into every aspect of its business activities. Moreover, Takeda enhanced its CSR activities by establishing a dedicated CSR organization the same year.
In 2010, the first Takeda Initiative was launched. Takeda has formed long-term, ongoing partnerships with international NGOs and other groups to support their efforts to improve access to healthcare for people in developing countries. The Takeda Initiative is a 10-year grant program running from 2010 to 2019 to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) by helping develop the capacity of healthcare providers in three countries in Africa. For example, in Nigeria, more than 11,000 teachers received training in AIDS education in 2012 through programs that were partly supported by the Takeda Initiative, and they went on to teach more than 1.2 million students about AIDS. As a result of these kinds of activities, the HIV infection rates among young people in Nigeria have been falling.
In 2010, Takeda put the Takeda Global Code of Conduct into practice as a baseline standard of compliance commonly applicable to Takeda Group companies to help promote an integrated approach to compliance issues across Takeda operations worldwide.
In 2011, Takeda launched Azilva (generic name: azilsartan), a new angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), in Japan. It has demonstrated superior efficacy in lowering blood pressure over previous ARBs in clinical trials.
In 2011, The Shonan Research Center was completed. Located in the cities of Fujisawa and Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture. The facility was set up to integrate the Osaka and Tsukuba research centers as the nucleus of Takeda's global research network to accelerate innovation in drug discovery. Around 1,200 researchers at the center work through the various stages of the R&D process, from the initial search for drug discovery targets to the selection of candidate compounds to the nonclinical research until launch.
The integration of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Nycomed was completed in September 2011. Nycomed is a company with a strong presence in Europe and developing countries. Due to the integration, Takeda has expanded its market to over 70 countries and has been able to enhance its sales structure and expertise in order to deliver pharmaceutical products to more patients and medical personnel around the world.
As a member of the United Nations Global Compact LEAD Program, Takeda has helped to lead corporate efforts worldwide to implement and disseminate the 10 principles of the Compact relating to areas such as human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption.
Since 2011, Takeda has been supporting the recovery of areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake by donating some of the profits from Alinamin, Takeda’s leading multivitamin supplement. The Group has also been promoting a variety of other long-term, ongoing support programs.
In 2012, Takeda established its Global Vaccine Business Division. Vaccines have had a tremendous impact on global public health in recent years. Takeda made the decision to globalize its vaccine business, which has been active in Japan for over 60 years.
The Vaccine Business Division has been taking a number of steps to strengthen Takeda's existing vaccine business in Japan as well as steps to develop pediatric vaccines in-house and enhance the R&D pipeline by in-licensing novel vaccine candidates and novel vaccine development platforms.
The Vaccine Business Division has been taking a number of steps to strengthen Takeda's existing vaccine business in Japan as well as steps to develop pediatric vaccines in-house and enhance the R&D pipeline by in-licensing novel vaccine candidates and novel vaccine development platforms.
In 2012, Takeda integrated four companies: URL Pharma, Inc., adding the leading product Colcrys (colchicine) to the portfolio for the treatment of gout flares; Multilab Indústria e Comércio de Produtos Farmacêuticos Ltda., greatly expanded Takeda presence and product portfolio in Brazil; LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc., strengthening Takeda’s vaccine business. (Currently Takeda Vaccines (Montana), Inc.); and Envoy Therapeutics, Inc., strengthening our drug discovery platform to enable the identification of novel targets.
In 2012, Takeda established a global policy on Environment, Health, and Safety, and promoted comprehensive initiatives.
EHS-related activities span various issues of concern to the global community, such as the use of water resources and conservation of biodiversity. Specific future plans include assessment and analysis of the environmental impact of Group products over their life cycle and a detailed approach to environmental accounting through the utilization of LIME and other means.
In 2012, Adcetric was launched in Europe. This treatment for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma was in-licensed from Seattle Genetics, Inc. and launched by Takeda in the EU in 2012 and Japan in 2014. For patients suffering from these rare conditions, this prescription drug provides a new treatment option.
In 2013, Lotriga (generic name: Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters 90), a highly concentrated omega-3-derived prescription drug, was in-licensed from Pronova BioPharma ASA. It was the first prescription medicine in Japan that contains both EPA and DHA.
In 2013, Nesina (generic name: alogliptin benzoate) was launched in the U.S. It was originally discovered by Takeda California, Inc., and is a type 2 diabetes treatment that lowers blood glucose levels by inhibiting the enzyme DPP-4 that breaks down glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that stimulates secretion of insulin.
In December 2013, Takeda signed the CEO Statement of Support for the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs). The WEPs are a set of principles for businesses offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace. These principles are the result of a collaboration between the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact.
Since 2013, Takeda has followed the seven principles to enhance its initiatives for promoting the active participation of women in corporate activities.
Through the integration of Colorado-based Inviragen, Inc. in 2013, Takeda acquired innovative pipeline candidates and cutting-edge vaccine technologies for both live-virus and inactivated virus vaccines that greatly enhanced the company’s presence in the global vaccine market.
In 2013, Trintellix (then Brintellix) was launched in the U.S. This treatment for Major Depressive Disorder was in-licensed from Lundbeck of Denmark. Trintellix has a different mechanism from existing treatments and is therefore expected to contribute to treat many patients with depression. The product name was changed to Trintellix from Brintellix in 2016.
Entyvio was launched in both the EU and the U.S. in June 2014. It was a groundbreaking new product that offered a new treatment option to patients with inflammatory intestinall disease who have had inadequate responce to existing treatment.
NINLARO was approved in the U.S. in 2015 as the first oral proteasome inhibitor and was the result of decades of Nobel-prize winning science and research in multiple myeloma.
In 2015, Takeda and the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University started a joint research program T-CiRA to explore clinical applications of stem cells.
Through the integration of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals in 2017, Takeda further strengthened its global oncology portfolio and pipeline by expanding into solid tumors.
In 2018, Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark) was opened as Japan’s first pharma-led open innovation ecosystem for the development of cutting-edge healthcare solutions.
In 2018, Takeda opened the Takeda Global Headquarters in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. The building was designed to support diverse workstyles and promote creativity in the workplace.
In 2018, Takeda became the only pharmaceutical company listed on both the TSE and NYSE.
In 2019, Takeda completed its acquisition of Shire plc, becoming a global R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader with a presence in 80 countries and regions.
In 2019, TAKEDA LIFE THEATER was opened on the first floor of Takeda Global Headquarters, Tokyo, to contribute to medical care and the promotion of health in local communities.