Takeda to acquire Ariad Pharmaceuticals

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. And OSAKA, Japan — Takeda on Monday announced its plan to acquire Ariad Pharmaceuticals for approximately $5.2 billion. The boards of both companies unanimously approved the transaction, and the companies expect it to close by the end of February. 

 

“The acquisition of Ariad is a unique opportunity that will enable us to positively impact the lives of more patients worldwide, advance our strategic priorities and generate attractive returns for our shareholders,” Takeda president and CEO Christophe Weber said. “This is a very exciting time for Takeda as we will broaden our hematology portfolio and transform our global solid tumor franchise through the addition of two innovative targeted therapies. Opportunities to acquire such high-quality, complementary targeted therapies do not come often, and we are very excited about the potential for this transaction to benefit patients, our shareholders and other stakeholders.”

 

With the acquisition, Takeda adds to its portfolio two targeted therapies that could expand and enhance Takeda’s oncology portfolio, including brigatinib, an investigational drug product for a genetically defined subpopulation of non-small cell lung cancer, as well as iclusig, which could expand Takeda’s hematology franchise to include chronic myeloid leukemia. 

 

Takeda said the transaction would provide immediate revenue and offered a calendar year 2016 guidance that includes $170-$180 million, and it expects brigatinib to have potential peak annual sales of over $1 billion. Takeda said it would leverage Ariad’s research and development capabilities and platform as well, absorbing Ariad's R&D costs within its existing R&D budget. 

 

“This transaction is a great outcome for shareholders of Ariad and Takeda, Takeda chairman Alexander Denner said. "Both ARIAD and Takeda are passionate about helping cancer patients, and I believe the talent and resources of Takeda coupled with ARIAD’s pipeline and people will accelerate the development of cancer treatments. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the management team and everyone at ARIAD for their unrelenting dedication.”