Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced that it has entered into an agreement to divest a portfolio of select non-core over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pharmaceutical products sold exclusively in Asia Pacific to Celltrion Inc. (“Celltrion”), an Incheon, South Korea-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and manufacturing of small molecules, biosimilars and innovative drugs. Takeda will receive $266 million USD upfront in cash and up to an additional $12 million USD in potential milestone payments, subject to customary legal and regulatory closing conditions.
The portfolio to be divested to Celltrion includes a variety of OTC products and pharmaceutical products in the Cardiovascular, Diabetes and General Medicine therapeutic areas sold predominantly in [Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand], which are part of Takeda’s Growth & Emerging Markets Business Unit. The portfolio generated FY 2018 net sales of approximately $140 million USD, driven by strong sales of prescription products Nesina and Edarbi. While the products included in the sale continue to play important roles in meeting patient needs in these countries, they are outside of Takeda’s chosen business areas – Gastroenterology (GI), Rare Diseases, Plasma-Derived Therapies, Oncology and Neuroscience – that are core to its global long-term growth strategy.
“Across our Growth & Emerging Markets, Takeda must focus on accelerating the commercial availability of our highly innovative medicines for patients living with complex and rare conditions, and expanding our approach to Access to Medicines across the Region,” said Ricardo Marek, President, Growth & Emerging Markets Business Unit, Takeda. “Doing so, better addresses patient unmet needs. While we remain committed to Asia Pacific, and the Emerging Markets, divesting non-core products helps achieve those goals.”
“This announcement marks continued progress on our commitment to divest non-core products as we remain focused on maintaining our financial discipline and rapid deleveraging following our acquisition of Shire,” said Costa Saroukos, Chief Financial Officer, Takeda. “One of several transactions since the launch of the divestment program, the sale announced today will further focus Takeda on our five key business areas and our pipeline of innovative medicines. We look forward to continuing to execute and deliver on Takeda’s financial commitments, including paying down debt and focusing our portfolio.”
Takeda has made strong progress on its ongoing divestiture program. In March 2020, Takeda completed sales of non-core assets spanning the Russia-CIS region to STADA for $660 million USD and in countries spanning the Near East, Middle East and Africa region to Acino for $200 million USD. In July 2019, Takeda completed the divestiture of Xiidra to Novartis for up to $5.3 billion USD. Additionally, earlier this year, Takeda announced the sales of non-core products in Latin America to Hypera Pharma for $825 million USD and in Europe to Orifarm Group for up to approximately $670 million USD, including the sale of two manufacturing sites in Denmark and Poland.
Takeda intends to use the proceeds from its divestitures to continue to reduce its debt and accelerate deleveraging toward its target of 2x net debt/adjusted EBITDA within March 2022 – March 2024.