Takeda Pharmaceutical Company

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.

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.

Takeda listed on the Osaka Stock Exchange in 1949 and began its international expansion in the 1970s. The company developed several important pharmaceutical products through the late 20th century, including Prevacid (lansoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor) and Actos (pioglitazone, for type 2 diabetes).

Key acquisitions included Millennium Pharmaceuticals (2008, approximately $8.8 billion), which added the oncology drug Velcade, and Nycomed (2011, approximately $13.7 billion), which expanded Takeda's European operations.

Takeda's most transformative acquisition was Shire plc, a Dublin-based rare disease and neuroscience pharmaceutical company, acquired in January 2019 for approximately $62 billion. The Shire acquisition was the largest acquisition in Japanese corporate history and transformed Takeda into a global top-10 pharmaceutical company. The acquisition added Vyvanse (ADHD), Trintellix (depression), and a portfolio of rare disease and plasma-derived therapy products.

Following the Shire acquisition, Takeda undertook a significant portfolio rationalization program, divesting non-core assets to reduce debt. The company sold its consumer healthcare business, several over-the-counter brands, and other non-core assets.

In 2023, Vyvanse lost US patent exclusivity, leading to significant generic competition and revenue erosion. Vyvanse sales declined 42% year over year in FY2025 to JPY 203.2 billion, driving a 26.8% decline in the Neuroscience business area.

In FY2025, Takeda delivered positive Phase 3 data for three major pipeline assets: oveporexton (for narcolepsy type 1), rusfertide (for polycythemia vera), and zasocitinib (for psoriasis). The company completed regulatory filings for oveporexton in the US, Japan, and China, and for rusfertide in the US. All three assets received FDA designations including Priority Review, Breakthrough Therapy, Fast Track, and Orphan Drug designations.

In 2025, Takeda also announced a strategic partnership with Innovent Biologics for two next-generation investigational oncology medicines, and initiated Phase 3 studies for elritercept (anemia-associated MDS) and mezagitamab (IgA nephropathy).

Takeda's 2026 Annual Integrated Report emphasizes the company's commitment to ethics, governance, people development, environmental management, and financial discipline. CEO-elect Julie Kim has stated that these commitments "strengthen our resilience and ability to create long-term value."

The company's environmental commitments include managing environmental impacts across its global manufacturing operations. Takeda reports on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics in its Annual Integrated Report, though specific targets and third-party certifications are detailed in the full report.

Takeda's R&D focuses on addressing unmet medical needs in serious diseases, including rare diseases and conditions with limited treatment options. The company's investment in narcolepsy type 1 (oveporexton), polycythemia vera (rusfertide), and other rare conditions reflects this focus.

Takeda is not a Certified B Corporation. The company's sustainability and ESG disclosures are published in its Annual Integrated Report and on its corporate website. The company reports to CDP on climate disclosures.

Takeda has faced several significant legal and regulatory challenges.

In 2015, the company paid approximately $2.37 billion to settle US federal and state lawsuits alleging that it had concealed the cancer risk of its diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone). The settlement was one of the largest pharmaceutical settlements in US history.

In FY2025, Takeda recorded additional legal provisions that contributed to the reported net loss of JPY 152.4 billion. The specific nature of these provisions was disclosed in the earnings revision, indicating ongoing legal and regulatory matters.

The Shire acquisition generated controversy regarding the size of the debt load taken on by Takeda, with some shareholders and analysts questioning whether the acquisition price was justified. Takeda's share price declined significantly following the acquisition announcement. The company has been working to reduce debt through portfolio rationalization and cash flow generation.

The decision to discontinue the gamma delta T-cell therapy research program in FY2025 resulted in a JPY 58.2 billion impairment loss, raising questions about the company's cell therapy strategy and the value of prior investments in this area.

Takeda faces scrutiny regarding its pricing practices for specialty pharmaceuticals, particularly in the United States. The company also faces ongoing regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions, including FDA, EMA, and PMDA oversight.