Takeda Establishes Two New BUs

Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. refocusing efforts based on recent product launches in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), including the creation of business units to support efforts in these areas.

Takeda will transfer the rights to develop and commercialize CONTRAVE (naltrexone HCl / bupropion HCl) in the U.S. back to Orexigen, allowing the company to focus resources in areas such as MDD, IBD, gout and diabetes.

Following the launch of ENTYVIO (vedolizumab) in the U.S., Takeda recently created a dedicated Specialty Business Unit, where Stephanie Brown will serve as vice president. Ms. Brown joins the company from Biogen and has more than 25 years of healthcare industry experience. Also, Takeda recently acquired a U.S.-based biologics manufacturing facility for the manufacture of ENTYVIO and other biologics.

Takeda has created a General Medicine Business Unit, led by senior vice president Thomas Gibbs, most recently of Vanda Pharmaceuticals, to support operations and marketing of the company’s medicines in the areas of central nervous system (CNS), gastroenterology, gout and diabetes. Gibbs has extensive commercial experience across therapeutic areas that include CNS, diabetes and others.

“Takeda is focusing resources behind opportunities where we can lead; we are making very deliberate strategic choices on where we will invest, and where we won’t,” said Ramona Sequeira, President, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. “We want to ensure we are focused on areas where we can provide the most value for patients over the long-term.”

“The functional model of Takeda’s past does not allow us to take an integrated approach to commercialization, which is what our customers need us to do as the U.S. healthcare system evolves,” said Sequeira. “We need to be able to look across evidence generation, patient access, and commercialization strategies and ensure they are aligned to meet the needs of patients, payors and providers in order to truly provide value through our medicines.”

The new U.S. strategy and organization comes under the leadership of Takeda President Ramona Sequeira, who was appointed president on June 2015.