Takeda Pharmaceutical Co said on Monday it would sell its Japanese consumer healthcare business to US buyout fund Blackstone Group , as it aims to focus on developing drugs for unmet medical needs and rare diseases.
Japan's largest pharmaceuticals company has been selling its over-the-counter (OTC) assets worldwide as it seeks to refocus its business and reduce debt following a $59 billion acquisition of Shire Plc last year.
Takeda CEO Christophe Weber said via an online briefing the company had decided to sell the Japanese OTC unit because it would be difficult for Takeda to keep investing in OTC businesses while trying