Takeda Turns To M&As To Meet Goal Of Replacing Expiring Drugs
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Takeda Pharmaceutical plans to acquire some companies and merge with others this year in an effort to beef up its oncology drug pipeline and stave off the impact of expiring patents. Takeda faces a problem in having two promising drugs delayed in development and marketing approval as it faces expirations on other key drugs. Takeda sees patent expiration as its "year 2010 problem" and has been counting on having replacements ready for at least two of its best-selling drugs, Prevacid (lansoprazole) for treating ulcers and Actos (pioglitazone) for diabetes, but each has faced a delay at U.S. FDA. To meet a plan to increase sales by 30 percent in fiscal 2010, Takeda now must look at cancer-fighting drugs of other makers. (Click here for more - a subscription may be required