Better Health, Brighter Future
- 12 presentations will be presented across 3 lysosomal storage disorders, underscoring Takeda’s commitment to patients with rare diseases
Cambridge, Mass. and Osaka,JAPAN,February 4,2019– Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (T SE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (“Takeda”) today announced that it will feature 12 presentations, including 11 posters and one oral presentation, at the 15th annual WORLDSymposium™2019 in Orlando, Florida, February 4-8. Presentations and other company activities will focus on its research and development efforts in lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) including Hunter syndrome (also known as Mucopolysaccharidosis type II or MPS II), type 1 Gaucher disease, Fabry disease and metachromatic leukodystrophy (also known as MLD).
The company will also sponsor a satellite symposium on the role of biomarkers in clinical management of lysosomal diseases, and a booth (Booth #105) in the WORLDSymposium exhibit hall.
“This year we are pleased to demonstrate that Takeda is committed to supporting the lysosomal storage disorder community and to advancing treatment in areas of high unmet need,” said Hartmann Wellhoefer, M.D., Vice President, Head of Rare Diseases and Internal Medicine, Global Medical Affairs, Takeda. “We look forward to continuing to participate annually in this unique congress which gives us the opportunity to reconnect and engage with the world’s leading LSD experts and patient organizations, who all share our passion for supporting patients affected by rare disease.”
The upcoming WORLDSymposium annual meeting focuses on the latest scientific and clinical research on LSDs, a collection of some 50 disorders caused by specific enzyme deficiencies and leading to significant disability and disease burden1.
Takeda’s presence at the meeting includes the following presentations, which are intended for scientific discussion only:
The company will also be sponsoring a lunch symposium, which is also intended for scientific discussion only at the meeting:
Fabry Disease
Fabry disease is a lysosomal disease affecting both males and females that interferes with the body’s ability to break down a specific fatty substance (globotriaosylceramide or Gb3) which accumulates within the body due to deficiency of a specific enzyme (α-galactosidase A).2 Fabry disease affects an estimated 1 in 117,000 live births.3
Hunter Syndrome
Hunter syndrome is a severely debilitating, rare lysosomal disease caused by a deficiency of iduronate-2- sulfatase, an enzyme that is needed to break down substances in the body called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). 4 Without this enzyme, GAGs can build up, causing a range of disease-related signs and symptoms.4, 5 Roughly two of every three patients with Hunter syndrome are also affected with progressive cognitive decline.6 Hunter syndrome affects 1 in 162,000 total live births, and almost exclusively males.3
Type 1 Gaucher Disease
Type 1 Gaucher disease is a rare, inherited metabolic condition, and the most common lysosomal disease. It affects approximately 1 in 100,000 people in the general population, and 1 in 855 people in the Ashkenazi Jewish community.7 Patients with type 1 Gaucher disease may experience varying symptoms and degrees of disease severity, making type 1 Gaucher disease difficult to diagnose.8
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare, inherited disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). MLD is a fatal, progressive demyelinating lysosomal disease caused by the deficiency of Arylsufatase-A (ARSA) leading to a toxic accumulation of sulfatides in the CNS and/or PNS.9
About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (T SE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Gastroenterology (GI), Neuroscience, and Rare Diseases. We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions.
For more information, visit https:// www.takeda.com
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1 Fuller M, Meike PJ, Hopwood JJ. Epidemiology of lysosomal storage diseases: an overview. In: Mehta A, Beck M, Sunder-Plassmann G, editors. Fabry Disease: Perspectives from 5 Years of FOS. Oxford: Oxford PharmaGenesis; 2006. Chapter 2.
2 Fabry Disease. National Organization for Rare Disorders. Accessed January 2018. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/fabry-disease/.
3 Meikle PJ et al. Prevalence of Lysosomal Storage Disorders. JAMA. 1999. 281(3):249-54.
4 Wraith JE et al. Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome): a clinical review and recommendations for treatment in the era of enzyme replacement therapy. Eur J Pediatr. 2008. 167(3):267-77.
5 Martin R. Recognition and Diagnosis of Mucopolysaccharidosis II (Hunter Syndrome). PEDIATRICS. Volume 121, Number 2, February 2008.
6 Young I. A clinical and genetic study of Hunter's syndrome. 2 Differences between the mild and severe forms.Journal of Medical Genetics, 1982, 19, 408-411.
7 Guggenbuhl P, Grosbois B, Chalès G. Gaucher disease. Joint Bone Spine. 2008; 75(2):116-124.
8 Grabowski GA. Phenotype, diagnosis, and treatment of Gaucher’s disease. Lancet. 2008; 372:1263-71.
9 Rosenberg JB, Kaminsky SM, Aubourg P, Crystal RG, Sondhi D. Gene therapy for metachromatic leukodystrophy. J Neuroscience Res. 2016;94(11);1169-79.