Japan’s Takeda decides to import 50 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with Moderna and govt. of Japan

Osaka, JAPAN, October 29, 2020 – Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co   (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (Takeda) said on Thursday it would import and distribute 50 million doses of mRNA-1273 in Japan from the first half of 2021 in an increased effort to expands Takeda’s support of pandemic preparedness in Japan.

This effort is part of a three-way agreement among Takeda, Moderna and the Government of Japan’s Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

Moderna has previously announced that the 30,000 participant Phase 3 clinical trial of mRNA-1273 at the 100 µg dose level in the U.S. is fully enrolled.
Earlier  Takeda had announced  establishing the capability to manufacture Novavax’ COVID‑19 vaccine candidate at its facilities in Japan to provide long-term supply to the Japanese nation.

The announcement came on just around Takeda’s mid-year results, which saw it raise its full-year operating profit forecast by 10% to 434 billion yen, quoting one-time gains from divestitures.

Takeda’s partnership to manufacture and supply Novavax’ COVID-19 vaccine in Japan and import Moderna’s vaccine are supported by the MHLW and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

This comprehensive strategy of Takeda to treat and prevent COVID-19 through multiple activities and partnerships focused on advancing development of a variety of potential therapies and vaccines is symbolic for the rest of the world and Takeda’s strategy will be adopted by other countries too.