Takeda Chemical Industries decided to construct a new pharmaceutical bulk plant in Ireland as part of its global production network. The new plant will start operations in 2004 and is expected to make major contributions to product supply and cost competitiveness. Plant construction is planned to begin in October this year.

Takeda formulated the 2001-2005 Medium-Term Management Plan and embarked on the challenge of becoming a major player in the global pharmaceutical market. To this end, the company is currently proactively engaged in reinforcing operating bases both domestically and overseas. The above mentioned plant construction and a smooth commencement of operation are therefore one of the key tasks of the medium-term management plan.

The new Irish plant will be the first bulk plant constructed overseas by Takeda. Upon completion, it will, in combination with the Hikari Plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, enhance the capacity of delivering bulk products on a global basis. Operations at the new plant will start with the production of drugs for clinical trials and the diabetes drug pioglitazone (trade name: Actos) aimed at U.S. and European markets.

Takeda has already established a pharmaceutical formulation and packaging plant in Ireland. The new bulk plant and the formulation/packaging plant will be run as separate companies.

"The construction of the new bulk plant in Ireland is a vital step on the way to putting in place a global business structure," said Shozo Nakamura, Takeda managing director and general manager of the Pharmaceutical Production Division. "It will enable us to meetfuture growth in demand for our products, and ensure the stable supply of those products to the U.S. and European markets."

Takeda's pharmaceutical production network currently spans Japan, Asia, and Italy and Ireland in Europe. The current operations in Ireland are responsible for the production of the diabetes drug pioglitazone (trade name: Actos), the hypertensive drug candesartan (trade name: Blopress, Amias, Kenzen, etc.), the peptic ulcer drug lansoprazole (trade name: Prevacid, Lansox, etc.) and other products, for U.S. and European markets.