Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Expands and Faces Controversy

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has expanded its operations globally, with a significant presence in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company's growth has been driven by strategic acquisitions and partnerships.

Takeda's largest acquisition to date was its purchase of Shire in 2018. This deal made Takeda the largest biopharmaceutical company in Japan and significantly expanded its global reach.

Takeda's expansion has also led to increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies and the public. The company has faced criticism over the high prices of its medications, particularly for its rare disease treatments.

Takeda has been working to address these concerns through various initiatives, including price transparency and patient assistance programs.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has a rich history that spans over two centuries. The company was founded in 1781 by Chobei Takeda, who began selling traditional Japanese and Chinese herbal medicines from a small shop in Osaka, Japan.

In 1871, Chobei Takeda IV, the great-grandson of the founder, started importing western medicines into Japan, including the anti-malaria drug quinine and cholera medicine phenol. This marked the beginning of Takeda's expansion into the world of modern medicine.

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Takeda was renamed the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in 1915, establishing research and testing divisions. It was incorporated in 1925 as a modern corporate organization.

The company's focus on globalization began in the 1960s, with the expansion of factories and marketing companies across Asia. This was followed by the expansion of sales to Europe in the 1970s.

Here's a brief overview of Takeda's major acquisitions:

Takeda's acquisition of Millennium Pharmaceuticals in 2008 brought in Velcade, a drug indicated for hematological malignancies, as well as a portfolio of pipeline candidates in the oncology, inflammation, and cardiovascular therapeutic areas.

TAP Pharmaceuticals was a joint venture between Takeda and Abbott Laboratories that operated from 1977 to 2008. It was a significant milestone for Takeda, marking their entry into the US pharmaceutical market.

TAP Pharmaceuticals launched several blockbuster drugs, including Lupron in 1985 and Prevacid in 1995. Lupron was a major success, but it also led to controversy.

In 2001, the US Department of Justice and the Illinois attorney general charged TAP with illegal marketing of Lupron, resulting in a massive fine of $875 million. This was reported as the largest pharmaceutical settlement in history at the time.

The joint venture between Takeda and Abbott Laboratories was eventually dissolved in 2008, with Abbott acquiring the US rights to Lupron and Takeda gaining control of Prevacid and other pipeline candidates. The split added 3,000 employees to Takeda's workforce.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has been aggressively expanding and researching new compounds since 2011.

In September 2011, Takeda acquired Nycomed for €9.6 billion, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth.

The company has made several key acquisitions, including Multilab in Brazil for R$540 million in May 2012 and URL Pharma for US$800 million in June 2012.

Takeda also partnered with BioMotiv to identify and develop new compounds over a five-year period, worth approximately US$25 million.

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In 2014, the company expanded its collaboration with MacroGenics, valued up to US$1.6 billion, focusing on the co-development of the preclinical autoimmune compound MGD010.

In 2015, Takeda sold its respiratory drugs business to AstraZeneca for $575 million, but continued to grow through new partnerships and acquisitions.

The company's innovation didn't stop there, as it developed Ixazomib, a treatment for multiple myeloma, which was approved by the FDA in November 2015.

Takeda has also explored new areas of research, such as neuroscience, by spinning out its research division into Cerevance in December 2016.

In February 2017, the company acquired Ariad Pharmaceuticals for $5.2 billion, expanding its oncology and hematology divisions.

Takeda continued to invest in research and development, acquiring TiGenix for up to €520 million in January 2018.

The company's recent deals include the acquisition of Maverick Therapeutics, Inc. in March 2021, and GammaDelta Therapeutics in October 2021.

In January 2022, Takeda announced it would acquire Adaptate Biotherapeutics and its antibody-based γδ T cell technology.

The company also signed a deal with Nimbus Therapeutics, LLC in December 2022, acquiring Nimbus Lakshmi, Inc. and its lead compound NDI-034858 for up to $6 billion.

In 2024, Takeda announced plans to lay off 641 employees in Massachusetts as part of a restructuring effort.

The company's commitment to innovation and growth was also evident in its $11.4 billion deal with Innovent Biologics in October 2025.

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Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has been involved in several controversies and lawsuits over the years. In 2015, the company agreed to pay a $2.37 billion settlement to around 9,000 people who claimed that their diabetes medication, pioglitazone, gave them bladder cancer.

The company's gastrointestinal medicines, including proton pump inhibitors like Prevacid, have also raised health concerns. PPIs are meant to be used for two-week treatments, but health professionals have criticized marketing efforts and questioned whether the drugs are overprescribed.

Takeda's Velcade cancer drug was recalled in 2010 due to white particles found in vials, while anemia drug Omontys was recalled in 2013 after reports of severe reactions that sometimes ended in patient deaths.

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Takeda pioneered a class of drugs that has drawn increased scrutiny. This class of drugs is known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Takeda developed and marketed one of the world's first two PPIs, a class of powerful heartburn drugs. Takeda launched Lansoprazole in Europe in 1991.

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PPIs are only supposed to be used for two-week treatments and no more than three times a year. Takeda's other proton pump inhibitors include Protonix, approved in 2000, and Dexilant, approved in 2009.

Health care professionals have frequently been critical of marketing efforts, and studies have questioned whether the drugs are over prescribed.

Takeda's Velcade was recalled in 2010 due to white particles found in vials of the cancer drug, which affected over 50,000 units in distribution.

The particles were identified as "polyester-like material" from the manufacturing process.

Velcade is used to treat multiple myeloma, a type of cancer.

The recall of Velcade was a significant issue, highlighting the importance of quality control in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

In 2013, Takeda and partner company Affymax, Inc., recalled all lots of anemia drug Omontys after reports of severe reactions that sometimes ended in patient deaths.

These reactions were severe enough to be fatal in some cases.

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The companies conducted a review of the drug but couldn't determine what caused the reaction.

Takeda withdrew its new drug application for Omontys from FDA consideration in 2014.

The partnership between Takeda and Affymax was dissolved in June 2014.

In 2016, Takeda withdrew from its partnership with Orexigen due to a botched postmarketing trial.

This trial had cost the partnership millions of dollars.

The FDA added Contrave to its watch list of drugs with possible safety issues in 2017, citing reports of patients losing consciousness after taking the drug.

Takeda was no longer associated with Contrave at the time the FDA added it to the watch list.

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Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has been actively divesting its non-core businesses in recent years. In 2019, the company sold its Xiidra dry-eye drug business to Novartis for $5.3 billion.

Takeda also made significant divestments in 2020, selling 18 over-the-counter and prescription drugs to South Korea's Celltrion for $278 million. Another notable sale was TachoSil, which was sold to Corza Health, Inc. for €350 million.

These divestments demonstrate Takeda's strategic focus on its core business and its commitment to streamlining its operations.

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In May 2019, Takeda sold its Xiidra dry-eye drug business to Novartis for $5.3 billion.

Takeda received $3.4 billion upfront and up to $1.9 billion in sales milestones from this deal.

In November 2019, Takeda sold its over-the-counter and prescription drugs businesses in several countries to Stada Arzneimittel for $660 million.

Takeda divested 18 over-the-counter and prescription drugs marketed in the Asia-Pacific region to South Korea's Celltrion in a deal worth $278 million in 2020.

Takeda also sold TachoSil to Corza Health, Inc. for €350 million in 2020.

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We've had some exciting updates in the world of divestments. As of last quarter, Apple has divested from over 20 companies involved in fossil fuel extraction.

In response to growing investor pressure, many companies are reevaluating their investments. This includes big names like Amazon, which has divested from over 15 companies with ties to deforestation.

Investors are taking a closer look at their portfolios, and some are choosing to divest from companies that don't align with their values. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years.

Some notable divestments include the University of California's decision to divest from fossil fuel companies in 2014. This move was a significant step towards a more sustainable future.

Investors are also looking for alternative investment options that promote environmental sustainability. This includes investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power.

The divestment movement is gaining momentum, with many institutions and individuals joining the cause. This includes universities, cities, and even entire countries.

As investors continue to divest from companies that harm the environment, we can expect to see more sustainable investment options emerge.

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Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has been around for over two centuries, with a history that spans more than 200 years.

Their core purpose is to transform lives, which guides their values and actions. They strive to do what's right for patients and society.

Takeda's values have been the foundation of their success, inspiring them to be bold and push boundaries in the pursuit of advancing science and improving healthcare.

We've been around for more than two centuries, guided by a core purpose that's remained the same.

Our values have been the driving force behind our actions, always putting patients and society first. We strive to do what's right for them, and that's a commitment we take very seriously.

We know that changing lives requires us to think differently. We listen to patients, their loved ones, and healthcare providers to understand what really matters to them.

That's what inspires us to be bold and push boundaries, setting new standards that open up greater opportunities.

In Austria, Takeda prioritizes technology and sustainability, with a focus on values that drive success.

Our company has a strong presence in Austria, where we're committed to making a positive impact.

Takeda in Österreich is dedicated to innovation and environmental stewardship.

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Takeda Pharmaceutical Company is actively working on developing a drug for high-risk patients infected with the new coronavirus. This effort is part of a broader push by several other drugmakers to create a treatment for the illness.

The Japanese firm is focusing on a plasma-derived therapy that has shown promise in treating severe acute viral respiratory infections. This approach involves transferring antibodies from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus or been vaccinated.

Takeda is also exploring whether its existing products or those in development could be effective treatments for infected patients. However, these efforts are still in the early stages.

Takeda joins Gilead Sciences Inc and Pfizer Inc in the pursuit of a coronavirus treatment. Gilead is testing its drug remdesivir in patients with severe and moderate cases of the illness, while Pfizer is investigating antiviral compounds that may inhibit coronaviruses.

Takeda plans to share its research with members of the U.S. Congress and is in talks with various health and regulatory agencies to move forward its research.

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