Takeda appoints new head for Europe and Canada

Takeda has announced the appointment of Marc Princen as corporate officer and president of its Europe and Canada business unit.

Mr Princen brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical industry experience to the new position, including roles in a diverse array of functions such as commercial, marketing, business development and management.

He most recently served as president of the mid-Europe region at Merck Sharp and Dohme, while prior to this he acted as the company's president and general manager of diversified brands.

Mr Princen's predecessor at Takeda, Trevor Smith, has stepped down from the role and will facilitate the transition of leadership until his departure on March 31st 2015.

Christophe Weber, president and chief operating officer of Takeda, said: "I am fully confident that Marc, with his rich set of skills and expertise both broadly across the pharmaceutical industry and specifically in a majority of Takeda's therapeutic areas, will prove a great asset."

This week, the firm also announced the mutual termination of its collaboration with Intra-Cellular Therapies to develop phosphodiesterase inhibitors for CNS disorders.