"ADCETRIS® 50mg for intravenous drip infusion", Treatment for Patients withCD30 Positive Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma or Relapsedor Refractory Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Now Available in Japan

Osaka, Japan, April 17, 2014 – Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) announced today that "ADCETRIS^® 50mg for intravenous drip infusion" (brentuximab vedotin) (“ADCETRIS”) is now available for the treatment for patients with CD30 Positive Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) or Relapsed or Refractory Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) in Japan. ADCETRIS received orphan drug designation from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in March 2012, and Japanese manufacturing and marketing authorization on January 17^th 2014. Additionally, ADCETRIS was placed on the country's National Health Insurance drug price list today, April 17^th 2014.

ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics' proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.

"This brings us a step closer to providing a new treatment option to patients in Japan with relapsed or refractory HL and relapsed or refractory ALCL who still have significant unmet medical needs," said Masato Iwasaki, Director and Senior Vice President, Pharmaceutical Marketing Division of Takeda. "We are continually striving to deliver innovative therapies as quickly as possible to patients in Japan."

 

Takeda's consolidated forecasts for fiscal 2014 will be announced on May 8, 2014.

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