Takeda to Cease Cell Therapy Research
Takeda, a major pharmaceutical company based in Japan, has announced that it will be discontinuing all of its cell therapy research efforts. This decision marks a significant shift away from a field that Takeda had previously identified as a strategic priority.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Takeda explained that this move is part of a broader strategic portfolio prioritization process. The company will be halting its internal cell therapy research activities and instead will be seeking an external partner to continue this work. Takeda’s cell therapy research includes platform technologies and certain clinic-ready programs, although no clinical trials are currently underway.
With this decision, Takeda intends to redirect its near-term investments towards programs that can bring transformative therapies to patients more quickly and at a larger scale. The company highlighted its preclinical work on biologics, small molecules, and antibody drug conjugates, emphasizing the innovative and novel candidates that are being developed in these areas.
This announcement signifies the end of Takeda’s multi-year exploration into cell therapy. While Takeda entered the field later than some of its competitors, such as Gilead and Novartis, the company had focused on genetic medicine and had made significant investments in building manufacturing capabilities and expanding its portfolio through strategic collaborations and acquisitions.
However, in recent years, Takeda has scaled back its cell therapy initiatives. Facing challenges such as patent expirations and a shifting industry landscape, the company underwent a restructuring in 2024, which involved discontinuing certain programs focused on solid tumors and blood cancers. Takeda has since shifted its focus to autoimmune conditions, reflecting a broader trend among cell therapy developers.
As a result of winding down its cell therapy research, Takeda anticipates taking an impairment charge of approximately 58 billion yen, or around $394 million, related to its gamma delta cell therapy technology. The company will continue to assess any additional impacts of this decision and incorporate them into its upcoming quarterly financial results, which are scheduled to be released on October 30.
Overall, Takeda’s decision to exit cell therapy research reflects the company’s strategic evolution and its ongoing commitment to delivering innovative therapies to patients in need.
