Key Takeaways:
- Takeda’s R&D head, Andy Plump, M.D., Ph.D., believes the company’s consistent dealmaking has offset the slower pace of the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.
- Takeda is focused on transitioning its late-stage pipeline to commercial success, with a focus on small molecules, biologics, antibody-drug conjugates, and allogeneic cell therapies.
- The company has abandoned its cell therapy work, citing the need to advance the technology at a faster pace.
- Takeda is implementing artificial intelligence across its discovery engine to ensure momentum and redesigning research workflows to be AI-native.
- The company sees the disruption at the National Institutes of Health and academic centers as the biggest threat to U.S. innovation.
Introduction to Takeda’s Strategy
The annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco has seen a subdued start, but Takeda’s R&D head, Andy Plump, M.D., Ph.D., remains optimistic about the company’s consistent dealmaking over the past several months. In an interview with Fierce, Plump explained that Takeda’s focus is on transitioning its late-stage pipeline to commercial success, rather than making big, splashy announcements. As Plump stated, "We’re keen on continuing to build and grow our pipeline always, but the need to make big, splashy announcements right now is just not where our focus is." This approach is a result of the company’s $900 million restructure in 2024, which led to a shift in strategy and a focus on more mature assets.
Abandoning Cell Therapy
Takeda’s decision to abandon its cell therapy work was not taken lightly, with Plump acknowledging the potential of the technology. However, the company was unable to advance the technology at the necessary pace, and the decision was made to focus on other areas. As Plump explained, "It wasn’t easy… I’m very excited about the potential for cell therapy, and we had made very significant investments, and I still believe in the platform." The company’s gamma delta T-cell therapy platform, acquired from GammaDelta Therapeutics in 2021, was also abandoned as a result of this decision. This move has allowed Takeda to focus on its eight late-stage programs, including two from Innovent, across more than 30 potential indications.
Implementing Artificial Intelligence
To ensure momentum, Takeda is implementing artificial intelligence across its discovery engine and redesigning research workflows to be AI-native. This decision follows a successful partnership with Boston-based Nabla Bio, which used AI to create a new molecule with the desired properties. As Plump explained, "We asked, ‘Could we have come up with this ourselves using traditional approaches?’ And the answer was, ‘Never in a million years.’" The company is now extending its partnership with Nabla, with a pact potentially worth up to $1 billion. This move is expected to bring significant benefits, including increased efficiency and accuracy in the discovery process.
The Biggest Threat to U.S. Innovation
Plump believes that the disruption at the National Institutes of Health and academic centers is the biggest threat to U.S. innovation. The turnover in workforce, including over 90% of senior leadership at the FDA, has been disruptive, and Plump is concerned about the lagging indicators of these changes. As he stated, "Leadership is fundamental to success, and the concern I have will be the lagging indicators of what we’re seeing right now." However, Plump remains optimistic, seeing a silver lining in the growth of innovation and academic science outside of the United States. This growth has the potential to compensate for the challenges faced by the U.S. and ensure that patients continue to have access to innovative medicines.
Global Competition and Innovation
The pharmaceutical industry is becoming increasingly global, with countries like China advancing and growing at a rapid pace. Plump believes that this competition is a good thing, driving the U.S. to discover and aim to be the nation bringing innovative medicines to its patients first. As he explained, "That’s good because it means it brings medicines more quickly to the patients in China and it creates a global competitiveness." Takeda is keeping a close eye on these developments, recognizing the importance of innovation and academic science in driving progress in the industry. The company’s focus on artificial intelligence and its partnership with Nabla Bio are just a few examples of its commitment to innovation and its desire to stay ahead of the curve.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Takeda’s strategy is focused on transitioning its late-stage pipeline to commercial success, with a focus on small molecules, biologics, antibody-drug conjugates, and allogeneic cell therapies. The company’s decision to abandon its cell therapy work was not taken lightly, but it has allowed Takeda to focus on other areas with greater potential. The implementation of artificial intelligence across its discovery engine is expected to bring significant benefits, and the company’s partnership with Nabla Bio is a key part of this strategy. As Plump stated, "We make massive investments, and the failure rates are huge. That’s not a conservative mindset." Takeda’s commitment to innovation and its desire to stay ahead of the curve are evident in its approach, and the company is well-positioned to continue making significant contributions to the pharmaceutical industry.
https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/jpm26-takedas-rd-head-talks-slow-monday-biggest-threat-us-innovation-phoenix-rising-ashes