
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) is owned by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company (TSE: 4502; NYSE: TAK), a publicly traded Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Takeda acquired Vyvanse through its $62 billion acquisition of Shire in January 2019. Vyvanse received FDA approval for ADHD in February 2007 and for binge eating disorder in January 2015. Generic lisdexamfetamine was approved in 2023, causing significant revenue erosion. Takeda reported FY2025 revenue of JPY 4,505.7 billion. Vyvanse is a Schedule II controlled substance.
Parent Company
Acquired
2019
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Vyvanse | Takeda Pharmaceutical Company | Wholly owned |
Vyvanse's development originated from New River Pharmaceuticals' research into prodrug technology for central nervous system stimulants. The goal was to develop an amphetamine-based ADHD treatment with a lower abuse potential than existing immediate-release amphetamine formulations, by creating a prodrug that would be converted to the active amphetamine only after oral absorption and enzymatic cleavage in the body.
New River Pharmaceuticals developed lisdexamfetamine dimesylate as a prodrug in which d-amphetamine is covalently bound to the amino acid l-lysine. When taken orally, lisdexamfetamine is absorbed intact from the gastrointestinal tract and then converted to d-amphetamine and l-lysine by enzymatic cleavage, primarily in red blood cells. The rate-limiting step of enzymatic cleavage provides a more gradual rise in d-amphetamine plasma levels compared to immediate-release amphetamine, which was intended to reduce the abuse potential and provide a smoother, longer duration of effect.
Shire acquired New River Pharmaceuticals in 2007 for approximately $2.6 billion and conducted the clinical development and regulatory submission for Vyvanse. The FDA approved Vyvanse on February 23, 2007, for the treatment of ADHD in patients aged 6 and older. Vyvanse was the first amphetamine prodrug approved for ADHD and was marketed as offering a longer duration of effect (up to 14 hours) and potentially lower abuse potential compared to immediate-release amphetamine formulations.
Vyvanse became one of the most prescribed ADHD medications in the United States, consistently ranking among the top 50 most prescribed medications nationally. The drug's once-daily dosing, long duration of effect, and perceived lower abuse potential compared to immediate-release stimulants drove strong adoption among physicians and patients.
In January 2015, the FDA approved Vyvanse for the treatment of moderate to severe binge eating disorder (BED) in adults, making it the first FDA-approved medication specifically indicated for BED. BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States, characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food with a sense of loss of control. The BED approval significantly expanded Vyvanse's patient population beyond ADHD.
Takeda acquired Shire in January 2019 for approximately $62 billion, one of the largest pharmaceutical acquisitions in history. Vyvanse was one of the key assets that made Shire attractive to Takeda, as it was consistently one of Shire's top-selling products, generating billions of dollars in annual revenues.
Vyvanse's U.S. patents expired in 2023, and the FDA approved generic lisdexamfetamine dimesylate products in 2023. The entry of generic competition significantly reduced Vyvanse's commercial importance, as generic products are typically priced at substantial discounts to the branded product. The availability of generic lisdexamfetamine has been complicated by ongoing ADHD medication shortages in the United States, which have affected both branded and generic stimulant medications.
What does Takeda make?
Takeda makes prescription pharmaceuticals across six therapeutic areas: gastroenterology (Entyvio, Dexilant), oncology (Ninlaro, Adcetris), neuroscience (Vyvanse, Trintellix, Rozerem), rare diseases (TAKHZYRO), plasma-derived therapies (GAMMAGARD LIQUID), and immunology. The company has three major pipeline products pending launch: oveporexton for narcolepsy type 1, rusfertide for polycythemia vera, and zasocitinib for psoriasis.
Is Takeda publicly traded?
Yes, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 4502 and on the NYSE as an ADR under ticker TAK. The company also trades on the Nagoya, Sapporo, and Fukuoka stock exchanges. The company has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no single controlling shareholder.
Who is Takeda's CEO?
Julie Kim serves as CEO-elect, succeeding Christophe Weber, who served as President and CEO since 2014. Kim previously led Takeda's Plasma-Derived Therapies business unit. Weber's leadership included the transformative Shire acquisition in 2019. Kim is expected to outline her longer-term strategy at a capital markets day.
What is Takeda's revenue?
For FY2025 (ended March 31, 2026), Takeda reported revenue of JPY 4,505.7 billion (approximately $28.3 billion), a 1.7% decline at actual exchange rates. Core Operating Profit was JPY 1,172.5 billion (approximately $7.4 billion). The company reported a net loss of JPY 152.4 billion due to additional legal provisions and impairment losses. For FY2026, Takeda forecasts revenue of JPY 4,640.0 billion.
Who founded Takeda?
Takeda was founded in 1781 in Osaka, Japan by Chobei Takeda, who established a business selling traditional Japanese and Chinese medicines. The company has been in continuous operation for over 240 years, making it one of the world's oldest pharmaceutical companies.
Where is Takeda headquartered?
Takeda is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company's global operations span more than 80 countries, with its largest market being the United States. Takeda also has major operations in Europe, Japan, and emerging markets.
How many employees does Takeda have?
Takeda employs approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The company's workforce is distributed across research and development, manufacturing, and commercial operations in more than 80 countries.
What are Takeda's major pipeline products?
Takeda's three leading late-stage assets are oveporexton (for narcolepsy type 1, launching H2 2026 with FDA Priority Review), rusfertide (for polycythemia vera, launching H2 2026 with FDA Priority Review), and zasocitinib (for psoriasis, launching H1 2027). The company also has Phase 3 programs for elritercept, mezagitamab, and TAK-881.
Vyvanse operates under Takeda Pharmaceutical Company's sustainability framework, which focuses on environmental stewardship, responsible manufacturing, and ethical pharmaceutical development.
Takeda has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in operations by 2035 and across the entire value chain by 2040. The company has implemented energy efficiency projects and increased renewable energy usage at manufacturing facilities where Vyvanse is produced in the United States, Belgium, and Germany. Takeda's climate action program focuses on reducing both direct emissions and indirect Scope 3 emissions through supplier engagement, with science-based targets aligned with the latest climate science requirements.
Vyvanse manufacturing processes incorporate Takeda's natural resource conservation initiatives, aiming for zero waste-to-landfill status at all major locations by FY2030. As of 2022, Takeda had already achieved 80% zero waste-to-landfill across operations. The company targets reducing freshwater withdrawal by 5% from FY2019 baseline while growing business operations.
Vyvanse benefits from Takeda's Sustainability by Design program, which incorporates environmental considerations throughout product development and lifecycle management. This includes optimizing packaging to reduce material use and improve recyclability, with targets for at least 50% of paper and fiberboard in secondary and tertiary packaging to be recycled content or forest stewardship certified.
Takeda operates comprehensive patient access programs for Vyvanse to ensure patients can access essential treatments regardless of their ability to pay. These programs include financial assistance, copay support, and patient education services. The Vyvanse Access Solutions program helps eligible patients navigate insurance coverage and financial assistance options for ADHD and binge eating disorder treatment.
Vyvanse's status as a Schedule II controlled substance requires comprehensive compliance programs including DEA registration, security protocols, prescription monitoring, and diversion prevention programs. Takeda maintains robust systems to prevent diversion while maintaining legitimate patient access.
Vyvanse supports patient advocacy organizations and educational initiatives focused on ADHD awareness, binge eating disorder education, and mental health destigmatization. The company partners with organizations including CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD) and the National Eating Disorders Association.
FDA Approval Milestones: Vyvanse achieved significant regulatory recognition with its FDA approval on February 23, 2007, for ADHD treatment in patients aged 6 and older, followed by a groundbreaking approval in January 2015 for moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults. This made Vyvanse the first FDA-approved medication specifically indicated for BED.
Innovation in CNS Therapeutics: Vyvanse has been recognized within the pharmaceutical industry for its innovative prodrug formulation, which provides extended-release delivery of lisdexamfetamine. This technological advancement in central nervous system therapeutics has been acknowledged for improving medication adherence and reducing potential for abuse compared to immediate-release stimulant formulations.
Clinical Excellence Recognition: Vyvanse's clinical efficacy and safety profile have been recognized by medical organizations and psychiatric associations. The medication's performance in clinical trials demonstrating effectiveness for both ADHD and binge eating disorder has been acknowledged by healthcare professionals for expanding treatment options in mental health.
Takeda Company Recognition: As part of Takeda's portfolio, Vyvanse contributes to the company's recognition for pharmaceutical excellence. Takeda received the ISPE Company of the Year Award for outstanding leadership in pharmaceutical engineering and manufacturing, reflecting the quality standards applied to Vyvanse production.
Patient Advocacy Recognition: Vyvanse's role in treating ADHD and binge eating disorder has been acknowledged by patient advocacy organizations including CHADD and the National Eating Disorders Association for advancing treatment options in mental health.
Established Safety Profile: Vyvanse's established safety profile, with more than 15 years of post-approval data from millions of patients, has been recognized by patient safety organizations and mental health groups as demonstrating excellence in pharmaceutical safety monitoring for controlled substance medications.
Generic Vyvanse Recall (October 2025): Sun Pharmaceutical Industries issued a nationwide recall of multiple lots of generic lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules. The FDA found that the medication failed to meet specifications, leading to a Class II recall designation. The recall affected seven capsule strengths distributed by Sun Pharma, creating concerns about medication quality and supply reliability in the ADHD treatment market.
OHM Laboratories Recall (2025): OHM Laboratories, another manufacturer of generic lisdexamfetamine, issued a voluntary recall for specific lots after FDA findings of non-compliance. The recall affected bottles distributed nationwide and required patients to check prescription bottle lot numbers against recalled lots.
ADHD Medication Shortages: Vyvanse and its generic equivalents have been affected by ongoing ADHD medication shortages in the United States since 2022. The shortages have been attributed to increased demand, manufacturing issues, DEA production quotas for Schedule II controlled substances, and supply chain disruptions. These shortages have created difficulties for patients in filling prescriptions and maintaining therapeutic continuity.
Significant Revenue Erosion: Generic lisdexamfetamine was approved in 2023 following patent expiration, causing substantial revenue decline. In H1 FY2025, Vyvanse/Elvanse sales were JPY 106.6 billion, down 47.6% year over year. Takeda's overall FY2025 revenue declined 1.7% primarily due to Vyvanse loss of exclusivity. The impact is tapering off as Growth and Launch Products revenue increases.
Controlled Substance Classification: Vyvanse's Schedule II classification creates ongoing challenges regarding access and regulation. The high potential for abuse and dependence requires strict prescribing controls and pharmacy monitoring, which can limit patient access despite legitimate medical need.
Generic Quality Control Issues: The 2025 recalls of generic lisdexamfetamine by Sun Pharma and OHM Laboratories highlighted concerns about generic medication consistency and regulatory oversight. These quality control issues disrupted supply for patients relying on generic Vyvanse for ADHD and BED treatment.
Side Effects and Safety Concerns: Vyvanse faces ongoing scrutiny regarding potential side effects including cardiovascular risks (increased heart rate and blood pressure), psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, irritability, mood changes), insomnia, and appetite suppression. The medication's amphetamine-based mechanism requires careful patient monitoring, particularly in adult populations with binge eating disorder.
Pricing and Insurance Coverage: Vyvanse's high cost as a branded medication creates access issues for patients with limited insurance coverage or high deductible plans. Annual treatment costs can exceed $3,000 before insurance. Generic versions have helped address some affordability concerns but have also introduced quality control challenges.
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Vyvanseoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
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