Annual Shareholders Meeting: Takeda “building for the future”

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Takeda. We’re building for the future and are confident in our outlook.”

That was the message from Takeda president and CEO Christophe Weber when he addressed shareholders joining the company’s 146th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders in-person and online on June 29, 2022. Shareholders were encouraged to participate online again this year as a measure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Building for the future

Takeda has transformed into a leading global biopharmaceutical company. And we’re making a clear impact through a balanced and diverse product and R&D portfolio, a truly global team, and a presence on both the Tokyo and New York stock exchanges. We continue to expand our presence in our strategic markets and we are now in a position to scale our ambitions and innovate in ways we never imagined.

Innovation stays our core
One-third of Takeda’s late-stage pipeline has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation, a testament to our innovation and commitment to develop transformational therapies where there is significant unmet need. As Takeda looks over the horizon to our long-term pipeline, our goal is to translate science into highly innovative, life-changing medicines.

Pride in our people
Takeda is investing in the well-being of our people and prioritizing building resilience to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. We’re also focusing on nurturing a culture of lifelong learning and talent development and ramping up data and digital programs for all colleagues to make sure we are a future-ready organization.

New board members appointed 
The appointment of John Maraganore, Ph.D. and Kimberly A. Reed, to the board of directors was approved by shareholders and they joined the board effective June 29, succeeding Toshiyuki Shiga and Shiro Kuniya, who retired. In a board meeting following the shareholders meeting, Masami Iijima was newly appointed chair of the board meetings, succeeding Masahiro Sakane who also retired.The appointments of all other then-current board members were also approved by shareholders.

Video playback of the General Meeting of Shareholders, including the presentation by Christophe Weber is available here.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Takeda and its customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which Takeda operates, or on other facets of its business; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takeda’s operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda’s future results.