Takeda Reports FY2019 Global Revenue of $30.5 Billion, Enters Top 10 Global Pharma Companies

This week, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced its financial results for fiscal year 2019, ended March 31, 2020. During the reporting period, the company’s global revenue reached JPY 3.3 trillion (approximately USD 30.5 billion), representing a reported growth of 56.9% and an actual year-on-year increase of 1.6% (excluding foreign exchange impacts and divestitures). In January 2019, Takeda completed the acquisition of Shire, which contributed to its performance.

Although the growth rate for January–March 2020 (the fourth quarter) slowed significantly to 7.6% from an average of 83.1% in the first three quarters, the company expects that its 2020 performance will not be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to maintain its growth momentum.

In terms of products, key drivers of global market performance included the following: Entyvio (vedolizumab), a gastrointestinal biologic, with sales increasing by 33%; Takhzyro (lanadelumab), a rare disease medication, with sales surging by 318%; Ninlaro (ixazomib), a treatment for multiple myeloma (MM), with sales rising by 29%; and Trintellix (vortioxetine), an antidepressant, with sales growing by 25%.

Performance Drivers in Emerging Markets

Takeda views the Chinese market as a key driver of its long-term growth. During the reporting period, revenue from the China market grew by 32%, reaching JPY 76.3 billion (approximately USD 714 million). One reason for this strong performance is China’s recent healthcare reform policies, which aim to improve patient access to innovative medicines. Takeda’s key products in the Chinese market include Ninlaro (ixazomib) for multiple myeloma, which was approved for launch in China in July 2018 and included in the National Reimbursement Drug List in October 2018.

Takeda has incorporated China into its global simultaneous development program and plans to launch 15 new products within the next five years. In March this year, Entyvio was approved for marketing in China for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. The lymphoma drug Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) received registration approval in China on May 12, and the rare disease medication Takhzyro is expected to be launched within the next 12 months.

In Latin America, Takeda’s market revenue reached JPY 143.5 billion (approximately USD 1.3 billion), representing a year-on-year increase of 62.8%. The report indicated that its anticancer drug Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) was approved for marketing in Brazil, and that Takeda successfully divested certain over-the-counter (OTC) and non-core assets in the region. This included an agreement signed in March with Brazilian company Hypera Pharma, valued at USD 825 million, granting Hypera exclusive rights to 18 prescription and OTC drugs in the Latin American market.

Takeda plans to launch 12 unique new molecular entities (NMEs) globally by 2024, including some potential best-in-class or first-in-class drugs, with expected sales exceeding $10 billion.