The agreement – financial terms of which were not disclosed – will see PRA manage clinical trials of all drugs in Takeda’s pipeline and see around 300 of the Japanese drug manufacturer’s employees join the contract research organization (CRO).
PRA spokeswoman Christine Rogers told us a wide range of clinical development activities have been handed over to the firm adding that “some regulatory affairs will be included, along with all other development-related functions.” She declined to provide additional details.
The firms said the deal will add flexibility and allow Takeda to reduce its costs.
R&D rejig
Takeda has been reorganizing its R&D operations for the past few years.
In July the firm said it would accelerate the process by concentrating its drug development efforts in the US and Japan and focusing on drugs for cancer, gastroenterology, central nervous system disorders and vaccines.
Takeda has signed “strategic” deals with CRO before. In 2011, for example it hired Covance and Quintiles.