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Business deals

Takeda and rivals chase cancer therapy prize through M&A

Shire's profits needed to fund drugmaker's hunt for next-gen treatments

A researcher works at Takeda's rival, Ono Pharmaceutical. Ono found great success with its blockbuster cancer medication Opdivo. (Photo courtesy of Ono Pharmaceutical)

TOKYO -- The rapidly advancing field of cancer immunotherapy is pushing Takeda Pharmaceutical and its global competitors to make a series of bold deals in order to position themselves in one of the most promising areas in pharmaceuticals.

One major impetus for spending around 6 trillion yen ($55 billion) to take over Irish peer Shire is that Takeda finds itself playing catchup to the likes of Ono Pharmaceutical, the domestic rival that developed the blockbuster cancer medication Opdivo.

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