Takeda Announces New Initiative in Cell Culture-Based Influenza Vaccines

09-01-2010: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced that it has received an official notice from the Pharmaceutical Development Support Center with regard to the granting of a government subsidy for which it had applied. Takeda was notified in writing on July 6 of this decision, and the company has now received the official notice.

Takeda has been selected as a recipient of this subsidy that the Japanese government offered publicly under its primary supplementary budget in order to support the investment associated with the development and production of pandemic influenza vaccines. In particular, the subsidy to Takeda is granted for the cell culture-based influenza development project, which comprises 1) the establishment of process development and testing facilities for production of vaccine and 2) the performance of development work needed to advance cell culture-based influenza vaccines through clinical testing and licensure.

With the receipt of this official notice, Takeda will expand upon its previously commenced efforts related to the development, production and supply of pandemic, cell culture-based influenza vaccines in Japan. Takeda has initiated preliminary development efforts in collaboration with Baxter International Inc. (Headquarters: Illinois, U.S.A.) (“Baxter”) based on Baxter’s Vero cell culture technology. Baxter is a leader in the field of cell culture-based vaccine technology and one of the few companies in the world with a licensed cell culture-based pandemic influenza vaccine. Takeda plans to apply for the government’s public offering under the secondary supplementary budget and to expand its collaboration with Baxter.

“As the only pharmaceutical manufacturer in Japan that conducts the development, production, and marketing of pediatric vaccines, Takeda has a proven track record of providing a stable supply of such vaccines over the past sixty years,” said Yasuchika Hasegawa, President & CEO of Takeda. “We will expand such pediatric vaccines business to regions outside of Japan, in particular other Asian markets. The development of pandemic influenza vaccine has become Japan’s most pressing need right now and we will expedite clinical development, technology transfer, and establishment of production measures for that vaccine in Japan, so that we can fulfill our social responsibility as a pharmaceutical company by delivering the vaccine to the market as soon as possible.”

The amount of the subsidy that has been granted to Takeda is 3.6 billion yen, which at this moment does not require revisions to our forecasts of consolidated earnings results for the year ending March 31, 2011, and if there is an impact to be disclosed, Takeda will announce it in a timely fashion