Takeda sets up US Ab research unit

Japan's largest drugmaker, Takeda Pharmaceutical, says that it has established a new company in the USA for therapeutic antibody research, Takeda San Francisco, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda America Holdings.

Located in San Francisco as one of the "bio-pharma clusters," TSF will be positioned as a center of excellence for Takeda's therapeutic antibody research, and a platform based on technologies such as discovery and development of antibodies, enhancement of antibody activity and antibody-manufacturing, which subsequently will lead to the earliest possible launch of antibody-based medicines, the firm says.

In Takeda's 2006-2010 medium-term management plan, enhancement of its capability to create new drugs via in-house R&D activities is set as a management task. The group is now implementing "re-establishment of research strategies" including "initiatives for innovative technologies," as well as "reform of the research management system to pursue quality and speed" and "cultural change among researchers to attract and nurture talented researchers." Setting up TSF is one of the important strategies towards achieving this. The new unit is expected to play an important role in Takeda's global R&D structure, together with the research functions in Japan, the USA, the UK and Singapore.