The new facility, which represents Takeda’s largest-ever investment in manufacturing capacity expansion in Japan, will help meet the growing patient need for plasma-derived therapies (PDTs) in Japan and worldwide
Takeda to invest $767m in PDT facility in Japan. (Credit: Anastasia Nelen on Unsplash)
Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda is set to invest around JPY100bn ($767m) to build a new manufacturing facility for plasma-derived therapies (PDTs) in Osaka, Japan.
PDTs are used to treat patients suffering from various conditions, including rare and complex chronic immunodeficiency diseases.
Takeda said that the new manufacturing facility represents its largest-ever investment in manufacturing capacity expansion in Japan.
The building will be the company’s largest facility in the country and will increase its current plasma manufacturing capacity at the Narita plasma manufacturing site by almost five-fold.
The new site, which potentially adds incremental capacity to its global manufacturing network, will commence operations by 2030, said the firm.
Takeda Japan pharma business unit president Milano Furuta said: “Takeda has delivered plasma therapies to meet the needs of patients in Japan for more than 70 years.
“This new investment will strengthen our ability to continuously and reliably bring high-quality PDTs to a growing number of patients in Japan and worldwide.
“We will engage in discussions with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to ensure we are contributing to sustainable patient care in an area of high unmet need in Japan.”
Takeda said that its new manufacturing facility will be designed to meet the highest global manufacturing standards, including the latest automation and advanced digital technologies.
It will be constructed as a fully integrated plant, featuring teardown, fractionation, purification, filling, and finishing capabilities, along with a cold storage warehouse.
Its environmentally friendly design will support the company’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions before 2035.
Takeda said that its existing plasma manufacturing site in Narita will continue operations, with continued necessary investments for maintenance.
Takeda global manufacturing and supply officer Thomas Wozniewski said: “We are pleased to make this investment in Japan, demonstrating our commitment to our fast-growing PDT business and to our home country.
“Japan will play an even more critical role in our global manufacturing network, contributing to supply chain resilience globally. The new facility will provide a plasma fractionation capacity of more than two million litres per year.
“The company will unleash the power of automation and digitalisation to deliver high-quality products to patients reliant on PDTs, including those with diseases for which there are no alternative treatments.”