Takeda Completes its Russian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility

• State-of-the-art facility in Yaroslavl demonstrates Takeda's long-term commitment to the Russian market
• Plant expected to be fully operational in 2014, supplying high quality tablet and sterile liquid products for the local market
• €75 million investment

ZURICH, Sept. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Takeda Pharmaceutical International GmbH ("Takeda") today announced the completion of construction at its pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Yaroslavl, Russia.  The Company has invested approximately €75 million in the 24,000m² production plant, which is expected to be fully operational by 2014.

Takeda was one of the first major international companies to have invested in high quality pharmaceutical manufacturing in Russia, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the market.  Based on sales Takeda is the 7^th largest pharmaceutical company in Russia. According to IMS Health, Russian pharmaceutical sales totaled $14.7 billion^* in 2011, making it the 11^th largest pharmaceutical market in the world. Market sales in Russia/CIS are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 11%^* between 2012 and 2016.  Takeda plans to outgrow the market with an annual growth rate of 15% over the same period.

The Yaroslavl facility will enable Takeda to meet demand in Russia, initially Cardiomagnyl, Actovegin and Calcium tablets.  It will lead to creation of initially around 200 positions for highly qualified managers and technical staff.

The plant, which is approximately 280 kilometers from Moscow, was constructed on time and on budget to local and international GMP standards and adheres to the latest safety and environmental standards.  It will have the initial capacity to manufacture 90 million sterile ampoules and more than two billion tablets per year.  Liquid sterile production includes solution preparation, washing of ampoules, sterilization, filling, inspection, and packaging.  Solid production will encompass all stages, from weighing, mixing and granulation through compression, coating, and packaging.

"The completion of this ambitious project further demonstrates Takeda's transition into a truly global business, and strategic investment into key emerging markets such as Russia is a major part of this strategy." said Yasuchika Hasegawa, President & Chief Executive Officer of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. "Russia is our largest emerging market in terms of revenues, and is expected to contribute significantly to our growth over the next few years. The Yaroslavl facility will enable us to provide locally produced pharmaceutical products to patients and clinicians, as well as bringing significant benefits to the Yaroslavl and Russian economy."

"Takeda is one of the flagship companies in Yaroslavl's pharmaceutical cluster and is the first major international pharmaceutical company to invest in a new world class manufacturing facility in the region," added Sergey Yastrebov, the Governor of Yaroslavl Region. "This project is an excellent example of the benefits that international investment can bring to the Russian economy.  Takeda is working closely with Russian companies to build the plant, and will create hundreds of high quality jobs for Russian people in the future."

^[*]Data Source:© 2012 IMS Health. All rights reserved. Estimated based on Market Prognosis Reprinted with permission

About Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH

Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, headquartered in Zurich, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and a leader in the global industry, Takeda's mission is to strive toward better health for patients worldwide through leading innovation in medicine. It has a commercial presence in around 70 countries, with particular strength in Asia, North America, Europe and fast-growing emerging markets including Latin America, Russia-CIS and China. Takeda is ranked 12th by global Rx sales, 14th in the BRIC countries and 18th in Europe. Areas of focus include cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, immunology and respiratory diseases, oncology and central nervous system diseases, among others. Through the integration of Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Nycomed, Takeda has been transforming itself, broadening its therapeutic expertise and geographic outreach.

Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate website, http://www.takeda.com

SOURCE: Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH

Media Contacts: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Public Relations and Investor Relations, [phone]; Russian media, Georgy Soustin, [phone], [email protected]; European media, Tobias Cottmann, [phone], [email protected]