Takeda to integrate Irish manufacturing operations

Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda Pharmaceutical is to integrate its subsidiaries Takeda Ireland (TIL) in Kilruddery and Takeda Pharma Ireland (TPI) in Dublin into a single operation on 1 July. All TPI assets will be transferred to TIL and TPI will be liquidated.

TIL has formulated drugs for the European and North American markets, starting with the anti-hypertension treatment Blopress (candesartan cilexetil) in 1999 and expanding to the anti-diabetic treatment Actos (pioglitazone hydrochloride) and the peptic ulcer treatment Prevacid (lansoprazole; Takepron in Japan).

TPI has manufactured active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for the past two years, handling the ingredients of the insomnia treatment Rozerem (ramelteon).

Takeda said the integration would improve productivity as it continues to globalise its operations to become a truly world-class pharmaceutical company.

"The new company will allow for increased efficiency in support functions, greater productivity and reduced costs, thanks to an integrated production management system that covers all processes, from API to drug formulation," said Takashi Inkyo, general manager of Takeda's pharmaceutical production division.

In a separate move, Takeda Pharmaceutical and its UK subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceutical Europe, have set up a sales and marketing operation in Portugal, Takeda Farmaceuticos Portugal, based in Lisbon.

Takeda Portugal started to provide Glustin (pioglitazone HCl, known in Japan, US and other European markets as Actos) through wholesalers on a demand-only basis last September, and now plans to start a sales and marketing operation within the next few months.

The establishment of Takeda Portugal's operations represents the fourth geographic expansion for Takeda this year, following Canada, Spain and the Republic of Ireland.