Takeda announces new cancer collaboration
pharmafile | May 11, 2015 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Cancer, Europe, Takeda, mental health, ncc
Takeda will be teaming up with Japan’s National Cancer Center (NCC) to develop new cancer drugs.
The two organisations have agreed to share information between researchers and doctors in order to develop research in pathogenesis and drug susceptibility of cancer.
“NCC is expecting a lot to be newly created by exchanging an agreement for the partnership with Takeda,” says Hitoshi Nakagama, director of the National Cancer Center Research Institute.
“By sharing bio-resources – including various types of cancer cell lines and animal models, biological and biochemical techniques for functional screenings, and huge amounts of clinical materials attached with detailed pathological and clinical information – further acceleration for development of Japan-oriented novel medicine and diagnostics is expected to be promptly achieved.”
Michael Vasconcelles, head of oncology at Takeda, adds: “We are so pleased to partner with the NCC. By leveraging NCC’s clinical research with Takeda’s technology infrastructure and tools for drug discovery, we hope that together we can have greater impact in a shorter amount of time to bring innovative treatments to the oncology community.”
In an effort to enhance their collaboration, Takeda will also participate in the NCC’s genomic screening project SCRUM-Japan, which sees medical institutions and the pharma industry in japan collaborating to screen cancer gene abnormalities. Takeda says that it hopes to accelerate research and development of new medicines through access to the genetic database generated by the project.
The company also recently purchased the exclusive rights to use ImmunoGen’s popular antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology to help develop new cancer medicines.
Takeda terminates antipsychotic collaboration
Whilst Takeda is making strides in oncology partnerships, it is also terminating another collaboration via its licensing agreement with Sumitomo Dainippon for the development and commercialisation of the antipsychotic Latuda (lurasidone hydrochloride) in Europe.
Takeda says that this decision is based on ‘market and business considerations’ and is not the result of new safety or efficacy information on the drug. All development and commercialisation rights for Latuda will transfer to Sumitomo, although the next step for the treatment in Europe remains unclear.
Masayo Tada, president and chief executive of Sumitomo Dainippon, says: “We remain committed to ensuring continued access to Latuda for patients in Europe, and to further contributing to the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.
“We will consider all options, including collaboration with a new partner, for the continued development and commercialisation of the drug in Europe.”
George Underwood
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