Takeda expands commercial platform in Israel

Dec 18 2013

Demonstrates Takeda's commitment to bring new, innovative treatments to patients

Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH ("Takeda") today announced further expansion of its commercial platform with the establishment of its wholly-owned subsidiary in Israel. Together with Algeria, Ecuador, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, Israel is the sixth sales entity Takeda has opened this year to reinforce its platform in growth markets.

Takeda Israel LTD will be headquartered in the Tel Aviv area and will be responsible for the sales and marketing of selected products from Takeda's portfolio and pipeline, with an initial focus on oncology. Takeda Israel will also seek local partners with complementary portfolios, through which to launch additional proven medicines from its current portfolio. Through its established network of local partners, Takeda products currently sold in Israel are Actos® (pioglitazone), Atacand® (candesartan), Contoloc® (pantoprazole), Lucrin® (leuroprelin), Xefo® (lornoxicam), Mepact® (mifamurtide) and other treatments in various therapeutic areas.

Israel is a highly developed pharma market with a universal healthcare system that values innovative medicines. The National Health Insurance constantly expands its list of reimbursable products, having dedicated more than a third of its additional funds over the last ten years to cancer treatment. According to Business Monitor International, pharmaceutical sales in Israel totaled US$ 1.5 billion in 2012 and are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% between 2013 and 2017, driven by population growth and an increased need for specialty treatments. Takeda plans to outgrow the market over the same period.

Arie Kramer has been appointed Country Manager for Israel. He joins from AbbVie Biopharma, where he headed Finance and Strategic Commercial Planning. Previously he had served as General Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Operations Manager at Novartis Consumer Health in Israel.

"There is a growing demand for specialty treatments in Israel," said Arie Kramer, Country manager Takeda Israel. "The establishment of our subsidiary demonstrates our commitment to bringing innovative new medicines to patients and will enable us to address some of the country's current unmet healthcare needs."

Patients are at the center of Takeda's approach to R&D and the Company has one of the richest and deepest pipelines in the industry today.