Takeda Pharmaceutical announced Wednesday it will exit cell therapy research and development, marking a significant strategic shift for the Japanese drugmaker that had invested heavily in the field over recent years.
The company said it will discontinue its cell therapy initiatives and seek a partner to advance its research and clinic-ready programs in this area. Takeda currently has no active clinical trials utilizing cell therapy technology.
Strategic Pivot to Core Platforms
The drugmaker will now focus resources on other treatment modalities, including small molecule drugs, biologics, and antibody-drug conjugates—areas the company believes can deliver innovative medicines to patients more quickly and at greater scale.
This decision follows Takeda's discontinuation of TAK-007, its blood cancer cell therapy candidate, last year in what the company called a "data-driven decision."
Significant Financial Impact
Takeda expects to recognize an impairment loss of approximately 58 billion Japanese yen ($395.47 million) associated with its gamma delta T-cell platform in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. However, most of this loss had already been incorporated into the company's full-year forecast announced in May.
Investment History in Cell Therapy
Takeda's cell therapy efforts were anchored by its gamma delta T-cell platform, acquired through the 2021 purchase of UK-based GammaDelta Therapeutics. This acquisition followed a multi-year collaboration that began in 2017.
In 2022, the company further expanded its cell therapy capabilities by acquiring Adaptate Biotherapeutics to accelerate development of gamma delta T-cell-based therapies. These immune cells were being explored for their potential to treat both solid tumors and blood cancers.
Future Pipeline Focus
The company is now prioritizing six drug candidates in late-stage trials, including elritercept for anemia in blood cancers. CEO Christophe Weber previously stated at an investor conference that these candidates are expected to generate combined peak sales of $10 billion to $20 billion.
