For decades, the pharmaceutical company Takeda, headquartered in Japan, has been developing and producing innovative medicines for patients with rare and complex diseases. Now the company’s Vienna location has a remarkable success story to tell: A new drug against an ultra-rare disease was researched in Austria and is being produced for the world market in Vienna.
Research and production in Austria
The innovative drug was researched at the site in Austria. It was successfully tested in clinical studies in eleven countries, including Austria, Japan and the USA. With this achievement, Takeda’s Austrian site demonstrates its ability to develop and produce highly complex medications.
Manfred Rieger, Managing Director and site manager of Takeda’s research and development division in Austria, explains: “The approval of this drug underlines the important role of our Austrian researchers within Takeda’s global research and development network. Their commitment and expertise have been crucial to this success and show the importance of local innovation and collaboration. This achievement solidifies Austria’s position as a central location for research and development at Takeda and brings us one step closer to improving the health of patients with ultra-rare diseases worldwide.”
Since the beginning of August, this medicine, which is already available in Japan and the USA, has also been approved for patients in the EU and is now available to those affected in Austria. Behind this success are dedicated employees from various areas of Takeda in Austria who have worked tirelessly to make this innovative therapy possible. They share the common goal of providing patients worldwide with vital medicines.
Univ.-Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Cihan Ay, Professor in the Department of Hematology at the Medical University of Vienna, explains: “Research into therapies for very rare diseases, especially blood clotting disorders, has a long history in Austria. Takeda makes an important contribution to the development and production of such an innovative drug and gives Austria a global reputation as a production location. Around eight patients in Austria are currently affected by the ultra-rare disease cTTP and some of them are already being treated with the new drug. In this area, research from Austria contributes to the design of new therapeutic options in medicine throughout Europe and around the world.”
Innovative Europe
Takeda’s innovative strength has a positive impact across Europe: Europe is proving to be an important location for the research, development and production of drugs against very rare diseases. During the Covid crisis it became clear once again that it is essential to produce medicines in Europe too. It is particularly important for people with rare diseases to be able to access vital medicines quickly and easily. This is best guaranteed if research and subsequent production takes place in Europe. The Takeda site in Vienna has once again proven that it is able to produce highly specialized medications at world market level and thus make a valuable contribution to global healthcare.
A medicine for patients worldwide
The medicine is produced in Vienna to ensure continuous care for patients worldwide. In emergencies, the Vienna location is also able to carry out life-saving shipments of the drug to people who urgently need medical care within a few hours. Takeda has already helped save the lives of a newborn in Great Britain and a pregnant woman and her unborn child in Switzerland. Smooth supply chains promote rapid treatment of patients in over 100 countries worldwide. The so-called life-saving shipments underline the commitment to people’s health and the organizational excellence of the Viennese team.
Maria Löflund, board member of Takeda in Austria and head of the Takeda production sites in Vienna, emphasizes: “The Vienna site is a unique example of innovation, as we cover all steps from research and development to production for the global market. We have been producing vital medicines in Vienna for over 70 years and have built up a great deal of expertise. Over 20 different medicines are manufactured at the Vienna location. We are proud that our medicines, developed and produced together in Austria, save lives and can be used worldwide.”
Rebecca Fowler, Managing Director of Takeda Pharma Austria, adds: “It is our mission to develop new and innovative medicines against rare diseases. This allows us to help people all over the world who are medically dependent on our medicines. True to our motto: ‘better health, brighter future’, we are working on innovative therapies that save lives and improve quality of life.”
About the medication
Takeda’s new drug is the world’s first approved recombinant ADAMTS13 protein for the treatment of congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP), with the aim of reducing the risk of blood clots in affected patients. The biological medicine is used both in acute cases and for prophylactic therapy.
About the disease
Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP) is an ultra-rare, congenital, chronic bleeding disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme ADAMTS13.
The incidence rate of cTTP is approximately one new case per million people. Without treatment, cTTP can lead to serious complications such as kidney failure, stroke and heart attack due to blood clots. The mortality rate from acute TTP events is over 90 percent if left untreated.
About Takeda
Takeda is a world-leading, values-driven, research-based biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. Takeda’s mission is to develop and produce life-enhancing and life-sustaining medicines for the treatment of rare and complex diseases. The focus is on caring for patients for whom there are no or only few treatment options available. At Takeda, our focus is always on commitment to patients, employees and the environment. https://www.takeda.com
About Takeda in Austria
In Austria, every step of the process for innovative medicines takes place at Takeda: from research & development, to plasma application and production, to patient care. Around 4,500 employees help ensure that medicines from Austria reach over 100 countries worldwide and that patients in Austria have access to Takeda’s innovative medicines. The Austrian product portfolio helps patients in the areas of oncology, rare metabolic diseases, gastroenterology and immunology, among others. Takeda was also recognized as a certified Top Employer for its outstanding employee experience and commitment to inclusion and is a pioneer in the area of sustainable and responsible pharmaceutical production. https://www.takeda.at
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