Tech as an Ally for Treatment Development, Adherence

Q: How has internal expansion changed Takeda’s market impact and focus?

A: In 2016, Takeda decided to transform and broaden its portfolio to include low-prevalence and rare diseases. The decision came after the company identified that many of the over 7,000 rare diseases were orphan diseases, leaving patients without the opportunity to have a better quality of life through treatment.

Our R&D capabilities allowed us to better understand rare diseases and generate innovative therapies. For instance, Takeda’s immunology division developed a therapy for hereditary angioedema based on a monoclonal antibody that prevents the production of bradykinin, the substance that generates angioedema. The treatment helps prevent hereditary angioedema attacks. Through this solution, patients can have a better quality of life knowing their attacks will be under control.

Q: How have trials for Takeda’s dengue vaccine turned out and what is the importance of this development for the company and for Mexico?

A: This vaccine has been in clinical development for over five years. The first regulatory submission was just introduced this year and we are looking forward to the results as this vaccine will bring hope and opportunities to the Mexican population. With this vaccine, Takeda is preventing the health complications that arise from hemorrhagic dengue. The company is also seeking to add to the primary care of this disease. At Takeda, we are still working to make the vaccine fully available because we know how much it would mean to Mexico. 

Mexico will participate in the vaccine’s development through clinical trials, which will allow scientists to observe how the solution affects participants and generate scientific evidence.  

Q: What role does Takeda want to play in the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Mexico and in the battle against the country’s chronic-degenerative burden?

A: Takeda is committed to being one of the most innovative biopharmaceutical companies in the world to address neglected diseases. As a company, we also want to raise awareness about these unknown diseases to avoid future complications that can later lead to chronic degenerative diseases. We want to transform patients’ lives through awareness, adherence to treatment, support and follow-ups.

During the pandemic, we noticed that ambulatory treatments were an active way to keep in touch with our patients and foment the adherence to treatment. Through our ambulatory solutions, patients no longer need to visit hospitals on a weekly basis. Instead, they receive their treatment at home.

At Takeda, we work closely with doctors to offer better solutions that meet the needs of their patients. This work has been carried out through our Within3 platform, which overcomes COVID-19 limitations to offer a digital solution to the R&D areas of pharmaceutical companies. Within3 provides a virtual space to talk with doctors and other relevant stakeholders to generate a continuous, uninterrupted workflow that facilitates innovation. For players in the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industry, constant contact with the medical community, patient groups and management teams is key to developing better solutions for their needs. Technology applications, such as Within3, have accelerated our processes and given us flexibility. As a result, productivity has improved and we are able to use our time more efficiently.

Q: How is Takeda enhancing access to its innovative therapies?

A: We carry out multidisciplinary efforts. For example, we provide doctors and specialists with continuous information regarding our innovations and their benefits. We also provide educational forums for primary contact doctors, who need to be properly trained to gain a wider perspective of diseases, disease trends and available solutions. This is fundamental for patients to receive a timely diagnosis through a proper first contact experience.

Our medicine access teams are in charge of the regulatory requirements of each country to introduce our therapies to institutions and facilities.

Q: Takeda will introduce six innovative products over a three-year period. What are the upcoming launches for the company?

A: In Mexico, we recently achieved regulatory approval for a treatment that alleviates inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s. We also received the approval for our treatment for hereditary angioedema, which is one of the industry’s most significant therapies in this area.

This year, we plan to introduce a primary immunodeficiency solution based on a replacement therapy to reestablish deficient immunoglobulin levels. This is a subcutaneous therapy with a highly effective outcome for patients.

As a highly innovative biopharmaceutical company, we are working on integrating technological solutions that accelerate data analysis to identify solutions faster. We are also focused on enhancing our team’s capabilities to translate their knowledge into solutions for society.

Takeda is a multinational pharmaceutical company with an innovation-driven approach to science and medicine. The company focuses on oncology, gastroenterology, central nervous system and vaccines.