Research & Development

Translating Science Into Highly Innovative, Life-changing Medicines

For more than 240 years, Takeda has focused on bringing better health and a brighter future to people around the world by translating science into life-changing medicines. Today, we are a top global biopharmaceutical innovator powered by approximately 50,000 people who come to work every day asking themselves the same question: How can we do more for patients?

With over 5,300 people focused in R&D, we do more for patients by translating science into highly innovative, life-changing medicines across our core Therapeutic Areas in Innovative Biopharma: Oncology, Rare Genetics and Hematology, Neuroscience and Gastroenterology. We have a singular focus on diseases affecting patient groups with the most urgent needs and for whom treatments do not exist or are not good enough.

Innovative Biopharma Focus Areas

Oncology

For nearly two and a half centuries, Takeda’s mission has been improving people's health. In oncology, we have built upon that heritage, developing and delivering transformative treatments for patients with hematologic and solid cancers. We’ve structured our organization to ensure a tight connection from research to development to commercialization — enabling us to rapidly bring transformative medicines to market and meet the needs of the cancer community.

We keep the patient at the heart of everything we do. Our team works with agility, collaboration and scientific rigor, and our day-to-day connections are marked by trust, respect and honesty. To succeed here, it takes a sense of urgency, because we know that what we do, today and tomorrow, has the power to change lives — and even save them.

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Takeda strives to deliver life-transforming therapies to as many patients as possible. Working with our network of world-class partners, our team is boldly advancing unprecedented mechanisms in our pipeline, working toward success for cancer patients worldwide.


Christopher
Arendt, Ph.D.

Head, Oncology Cell Therapy
& Therapeutic Area Unit

Rare Genetics & Hematology

Takeda has over 30 years of leadership in rare disease, seeking to modify the underlying causes of rare genetic and hematologic diseases. With significant internal investments and valuable partnerships, we have sharpened our focus by prioritizing the most impactful areas to serve unmet needs and make a dramatic, life-changing difference to patients all over the world.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience is poised to reach a significant inflection point over the coming decade, and our team will be in the middle of it all, answering the call to transform treatment paradigms — or even create new ones. Whether we’re making advancements in understanding disease pathophysiology or pursuing new modalities that unlock previously undruggable targets, we’ll continue to push forward in providing more and more effective treatments for patients.

To deliver on our ambition, we’re applying our expertise in disease biology understanding, translational tools, and clinical development. We are investing in multiple modalities in parallel that could solve biodistribution challenges and unlock full efficacy for patients. At Takeda, we are driven by science and innovation, and aspire to be a trusted leader and partner in neuroscience.

At Takeda, we are firmly committed to changing the treatment landscape for patients living with devastating neurological and neuromuscular diseases. We are focusing on diseases defined by genetics and metabolic pathways and are led by an inclusive, team-based approach with science and innovation at the core of everything we do.

Sarah Sheikh

Head, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area Unit

Gastroenterology

With over 30 years of experience in gastroenterology and a strategy to expand on our core expertise in inflammation, we are developing treatments in areas of high unmet need including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, psoriasis, advanced liver disease, and neurogastric disorders.

To make a real difference, we must understand how GI and inflammatory diseases impact the everyday lives of patients. Routines are interrupted, symptom management takes precedence, and embarrassment can make the emotional pain just as present as the physical. Our approach is a simple one: we work where the needs of patients intersect with promising science.

Together with researchers, patient groups and other partners, we are working to advance scientific research and clinical medicine to improve disease management for all those affected by GI and inflammatory diseases.

With programs built on scientific evidence, in-house expertise, and global collaborations, we’re focused on delivering transformative therapies to improve the lives of patients living with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases.

Chinwe Ukomadu

Head, Gastroenterology Therapeutic Area Unit

Strategic Investment Areas

  • Plasma-Derived Therapies
  • Vaccines

We are investing in platform capabilities in cell therapy, gene therapy and data sciences, as well as collaborating with academia and emerging biotech companies to tackle some of the most challenging problems in drug discovery and development. We are committed to our people and their growth and development. We know they are our most valuable asset and the driving force behind the innovation we strive to advance for patients.

There has never been a more exciting time to be part of R&D as we work to deliver breakthroughs to patients. We hope you will join us.

A diverse & dynamic pipeline

In the near- and medium- term, we anticipate delivering 11 new molecular entities with the potential for 15 launches.

  • ~40 new molecular entity
    clinical stage assets
  • ~50% pipeline with orphan
    drug designation
Modality-diverse research projects ~70%
  • Cell & gene
    therapies
  • Peptides &
    oligonucleotides
  • Microbiome
    & other
    modalities
  • Biologics
  • Small
    molecules
Externally-oriented mindset

We seek innovation and partner to nurture it, wherever it resides.

  • 200+ ACTIVE COLLABORATIONS IN PLACE GLOBALLY
  • ~100 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
    ACROSS 76 COUNTRIES
  • >60% PIPELINE IS PARTNERED
    WITH CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE AND INNOVATION AT THE SOURCE
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Takeda clinical trials

Takeda’s commitment to transparency reflects our strong support for sharing clinical trial information to benefit patients and to foster scientific discovery in a way that maintains patient privacy and preserves the integrity of our research. Learn more at ClinicalTrials.Takeda.com.

Our COVID-19 response

During the pandemic, we have focused on protecting our employees, maintaining our supply chain of medicines and therapies, reducing transmission, and supporting effected communities. We are working with other leading pharmaceutical companies focused on finding treatments through shared expertise, data, and evaluation of drug candidates. Learn more at Takeda.com.

News Highlights

Luck is not a strategy: The world needs to start preparing now for the next pandemic.

Andy Plump, President of R&D, discusses the future of pandemic preparedness.

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COVID R&D: Pharmas align behind crowdsourcing solution

Takeda has joined with other top pharmaceutical companies to push forward therapies and vaccines against COVID-19 at breakneck speed.

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MIT-Takeda program launches

Research projects will harness the power of artificial intelligence to positively impact human health.

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Woman of the week podcast

Anne Heatherington, Ph.D., Head of Data Sciences Institute at Takeda talks with PharmaVOICE.

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We are focused on therapies with transformative and curative potential, which is why we’re investing in the power of innate immunity and the promise of cell therapy.

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Key Locations

  • Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  • San Diego, California, USA
  • Zurich, Switzerland
  • Vienna, Austria
  • Shanghai, China
  • Shonan, Japan
  • Osaka, Japan
  • Singapore

Our Awards

Science Magazine 2020 Top Employer

Scrip Awards Pharma Company of the Year 2019

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