Takeda establishes new therapeutic antibody company

Takeda has announced that it has formed a new company to carry out therapeutic antibody research.

The new company will be entitled Takeda San Francisco (TSF) and will be based in the Californian city.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda America Holdings, TSF will also be the focal point for advances in research for antibody technology.

TSF will accelerate research aiming to build antibody technology such as discovery and development of antibodies, enhancement of antibody activity as well as antibody-manufacturing.

Yasuchika Hasegawa, president of Takeda, described the establishment of TSF as an “important milestone” in the company’s therapeutic antibody research programme.

“We will continue research investment as well as securing human resources so that we can accelerate therapeutic antibody research,” he confirmed

Mr Hasegawa went on to indicate that with additional in-house research the company will be in a position to pursue every possibility of utilisation of external research resources such as collaboration, alliances and acquisition.

Last month, Takeda and Affymax were recognised with the 2007 Deal of Distinction award for their global development and marketing agreement for Hematide as a treatment for anaemia.