Japanese pharma company Takeda posted a 3 per cent increase in revenues in the fiscal year 2012, despite the lingering effects of losing patent protection for diabetes blockbuster Actos in the US last August.
Net sales came in at 1,508bn yen ($15.8bn), holding up pretty well thanks to Takeda’s acquisition of Nycomed in 2011 which gave it a platform to roll out products in emerging markets , and sales gains for newer products introduced since 2010.
Operating income fell more than 53 per cent to 123bn yen, however, on high R&D, sales and administrative expenses related to the acquisition of Nycomed.
Actos (pioglitazone) continued a slump started in the first half of fiscal 2012, with sales down 59 per cent to 123bn yen in the full year, and there was also a steep decline for antihypertensive Blopress (candesartan), also on generic competition, which ended the year down 22 per cent to 169bn yen.
With Actos accounting for around 18 per cent of total revenues and more than half US revenues at its peak, Takeda has been working hard to develop a portfolio of newer products, including Nesina (alogliptin) for diabetes, hypertension treatment Azilva (azilsartan) and gout therapy Uloric (febuxostat).
Among these, Nesina has grown well since its launch in Japan in 2010 – rising 143 per cent to 38bn yen last year – and is expected to continue to accelerate following approval in the US earlier this year. The drug’s US launch is due in the summer.
Azilva also contributed to Takeda’s domestic sales growth on the back of data showing it to be superior to Blopress in managing high blood pressure, and the year also saw the first contributions from Lotriga (omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90), which was launched in Japan in January.
Outside Japan, Dexilant (dexlansoprazole) for gastroesophageal reflux disease climbed 35 per cent to reach 33bn yen, while pantoprazole for peptic ulcers saw sales double to 78bn yen and Velcade (bortezomib) for multiple myeloma advanced 25 per cent to 73bn yen.
In fiscal 2013, the pharma company now expects to sales to rise around 2 per cent with operating income rising by about 28 per cent on the back of increased revenues.
Takeda also unveiled the next stage of its 2020 strategic plan, which was launched in 2010 and runs in three-year increments.
Growth in emerging markets – particularly Russia, Brazil and China – will be driven by branded generics and over-the-counter medicines. The plan for established markets in the US, Europe and Japan is to drive growth of its newer products, particularly Nesina, Dexilant and its gout franchise.
Takeda also re-iterated plans to narrow its R&D focus to six therapeutic categories: cardiovascular and metabolism; oncology; central nervous system; immunology and respiratory; general medicine; and vaccines.