Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced an additional agreement with Moderna and the Government of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to import and distribute an additional 50 million doses of Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Japan from as early as the beginning of 2022. This includes the potential to secure and supply vaccines corresponding to COVID-19 variants or booster products, should they be successfully developed by Moderna and licensed by the MHLW.
Takeda previously announced a three-way agreement with Moderna and MHLW to distribute 50 million doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna Intramuscular Injection in Japan in 2021.With the agreement announced today, Takeda will import and distribute the additional 50 million doses in 2022, totaling 100 million doses between the two agreements.
Takeda’s efforts to bring Moderna’s vaccine to Japan are supported by the MHLW. The impact of this additional agreement on Takeda’s forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022 (FY2021) will depend on the exact timing of distribution. Takeda will update its FY2021 forecast at the appropriate timing, as necessary, also taking other factors into consideration.