Takeda Establishes Presence in Canada

    Company to be based in Mississauga, Ontario

    DEERFIELD, IL and OSAKA, Japan, March 26 /CNW/ - Takeda Pharmaceutical
Company Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North
America, Inc. today announced the establishment of Takeda Canada Inc.,
expanding the company's North American presence into the world's eighth
largest pharmaceutical market. Takeda Canada will be headquartered in
Mississauga, Ontario, west of Toronto, one of the top three biotech areas in
North America.
    "Aiming to realize itself as a world-class pharmaceutical company, Takeda
is striving to reinforce a global operating infrastructure including expanding
its own sales channels. Takeda's entrance into Canada is a significant step in
expanding Takeda's North American presence," said Yasuchika Hasegawa,
president of Takeda. "Takeda Canada's primary goal will be to help bring
important medicines to the patients in Canada who need them."
    Currently, Takeda focuses on therapeutic areas that include diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, central nervous system disorders, gastroenterology,
bone and joint disorders, chronic kidney disease/anemia and gynecological
disorders.
    Takeda Canada will register and commercialize medicines from Takeda's
portfolio of primary care and specialty products. Takeda Canada intends to
file its first New Drug Submission (NDS) with the Canadian Health Authority by
the end of 2009.
    "Our government is pleased to welcome Takeda Pharmaceuticals to Ontario -
we're proud that Takeda chose Ontario to be the home of their Canadian
headquarters," said Sandra Pupatello, minister of International Trade and
Investment. "This decision speaks to our highly skilled workforce, leadership
in innovation, and competitive business climate."
    Daaron Dohler will serve as the general manager and president of the new
entity as of April 1, 2009. Dohler's recent responsibilities at Takeda have
included leading Takeda's Global Alliance Research department and creating
Takeda's Global Alliance Management organization. During his career in the
pharmaceutical industry, he has worked in a variety of different roles
including marketing, business development, new drug development, and
operations. Dohler received his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of
Management and his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.

    Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

    Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda is a research-based global company with
its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in
Japan, and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to
striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by
developing superior pharmaceutical products. Additional information about
Takeda is available through its corporate website, www.takeda.com.

    Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. and Takeda Global Research &
    Development Center, Inc.

    Based in Deerfield, Ill., Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. and
Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc. are subsidiaries of Takeda
Pharmaceutical Company Limited, the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan.
The respective companies currently market oral diabetes, insomnia and
gastroenterology treatments and seek to bring innovative products to patients
through a pipeline that includes compounds in development for diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, neurology, rheumatology and other
conditions. Takeda is committed to striving toward better health for
individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical
products. To learn more about these Takeda companies, visit
www.takedacanada.com.

For further information: Media Contact: Jocelyn Gerst, Takeda
Pharmaceuticals, North America, Inc., [phone], [e-mail]; Seizo
Masuda, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., [phone],
[e-mail]