Takeda to ally with Japan’s National Cancer Centre

Takeda has announced a new drug discovery partnership with the National Cancer Centre (NCC) of Japan.

The agreement will see the new partners working to discover and develop superior, innovative anti-cancer agents originated in Japan and accelerate their commercialisation, so they can benefit patients as soon as possible.

Basic research, including studies on pathogenesis and drug susceptibility of cancer, will be facilitated by promoting collaboration between researchers, physicians and others engaged in anti-cancer drug discovery and cancer biology research.

Takeda and the NCC will share information and hold regular discussions in order to collaborate and transition findings from basic research to clinical research and development activities, leveraging the strengths of both parties.

Dr Michael Vasconcelles, head of the oncology therapeutic area unit at Takeda, said: "By leveraging NCC's clinical research with Takeda's technology infrastructure and tools for drug discovery, we hope that together we can have greater impact in a shorter amount of time to bring innovative treatments to the oncology community."

This comes after the firm recently commenced a new phase III trial of ixazomib, its investigational oral cancer therapy.