Takeda Pharm Stock Price, News & Analysis

The European Commission has approved ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) in combination with ECADD chemotherapy for treating adult patients with newly diagnosed Stage IIb/III/IV Hodgkin lymphoma. The approval is based on the Phase 3 HD21 trial results, where the ADCETRIS-based combination (BrECADD) showed significantly better safety and non-inferior progression-free survival compared to the standard eBEACOPP treatment. This marks ADCETRIS's second approval for frontline Hodgkin lymphoma treatment in the EU, adding to its six previously approved indications. ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting CD30, a key marker of Hodgkin lymphoma. The treatment demonstrates greater curative potential while reducing treatment-related morbidity, potentially establishing a new standard of care for advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Protagonist and Takeda announced positive Phase 3 VERIFY study results for rusfertide in treating polycythemia vera (PV), to be presented at ASCO. The study met its primary endpoint with 76.9% of patients on rusfertide plus standard care achieving clinical response vs 32.9% in placebo group. Key findings include a reduction in required phlebotomies (0.5 vs 1.8 per patient) and improved hematocrit control (62.6% vs 14.4% maintaining levels below 45%). The drug showed significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes including fatigue and symptom burden. Rusfertide was well-tolerated with no serious drug-related adverse events, and has received FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations. The treatment represents a potential first-in-class therapy for PV, a condition characterized by red blood cell overproduction that can lead to serious thrombotic events.

Takeda (NYSE:TAK) has opened applications for its 2026 Innovators in Science Award, a prestigious global recognition program for emerging biomedical researchers. The award focuses on three key areas: gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases, neuroscience, and oncology. Three category winners will each receive $75,000, while one grand prize winner will receive an additional $175,000, totaling $250,000. The program includes a 12-month career development initiative administered by Nature, offering training in grant writing, research communication, and lab management. Springer Nature will independently manage the award process. Applications are open until September 16, 2025, with winners to be announced at a gala in Boston on April 9, 2026.

The New England Journal of Medicine has published Phase 2b trial results for Takeda's (TAK) oveporexton (TAK-861), an oral orexin receptor 2 agonist for narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). The trial, involving 112 adults, demonstrated significant improvements in wakefulness and reduction in symptoms across all tested doses. Key findings include:

The drug achieved its primary endpoint with substantial increases in mean sleep latency, reaching levels similar to healthy individuals. Secondary endpoints showed significant reductions in excessive daytime sleepiness and weekly cataplexy rates. Quality of life measures also showed marked improvements across multiple symptom domains.

The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with most common side effects being insomnia (43%), increased urinary urgency (30%), and frequency (29%). Notably, 95% of participants continued into the long-term extension study. Takeda expects Phase 3 trial results in 2025, positioning oveporexton as a potential first-in-class therapeutic option for NT1.

Takeda (TAK) reported strong FY2024 financial results with core revenue growth of 7.4% (AER) and 2.8% (CER), driven by Growth & Launch Products momentum. Core Operating Profit increased by 4.9% at CER, supported by efficiency program cost savings. The company's core operating profit margin improved to 25.4%, up from 24.7%. Operating cash flow surged by 47.6% to ¥1,057.2 billion, while adjusted free cash flow jumped 171.3% to ¥769.0 billion. For FY2025, Takeda forecasts broadly flat revenue and core profit, reflecting VYVANSE generic impact offset by continued efficiency savings. The company announced a dividend increase from ¥196 to ¥200 per share. Notably, Takeda's pipeline includes up to six new molecular entities in Phase 3 development, with three Phase 3 data readouts recently completed or anticipated in FY2025.

BioLife Plasma Services, a Takeda company, has begun implementing the new Fresenius Kabi Adaptive Nomogram technology across its U.S. plasma donation centers. The system, used on the Aurora Xi Plasmapheresis System, is currently installed in over half of BioLife's centers and will be fully deployed by December 2025. Clinical trials demonstrated an impressive 11.5% increase in plasma collection per donor. The technology personalizes plasma donation by considering individual donor body attributes, optimizing collection efficiency. BioLife plans to achieve 100% coverage of personalized nomograms across all centers by March 2026, combining both Fresenius Kabi's Adaptive Nomogram and the Haemonetics Persona Nomogram systems.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has announced a significant $13.8 million grant initiative targeting U.S. nonprofit organizations. The funding focuses on two key areas: promoting healthy eating and expanding STEM education across the United States.

The company has also released its U.S. Community Impact Report, which details their progress in building a more equitable health ecosystem. This latest grant allocation reinforces Takeda's ongoing commitment to improving health through community-based programs.

The announcement, made from their Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters, demonstrates Takeda's continued investment in local communities and public health initiatives. For detailed information, stakeholders can access the complete report on Takeda.com.

Protagonist Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PTGX) and Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announced positive topline results from their Phase 3 VERIFY study of rusfertide in polycythemia vera (PV) patients. The study achieved its primary endpoint with 77% of rusfertide-treated patients showing clinical response compared to 33% in the placebo group.

The trial met all four key secondary endpoints, including the EU primary endpoint showing 0.5 phlebotomies per patient in the rusfertide arm versus 1.8 in the placebo arm. Rusfertide, a first-in-class hepcidin mimetic peptide therapeutic with FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations, demonstrated favorable safety with mainly grade 1-2 injection site reactions.

Following these positive results, Protagonist will receive a $25 million milestone payment from Takeda upon completion of the VERIFY clinical study report.