Takeda to sell OTC drug unit to Blackstone for $2.3bn

Japanese pharmaceutical maker in bid to reduce debt inflated by Shire purchase

Takeda Pharmaceutical will sell wholly owned subsidiary Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company, which is involved in Alinamin and other medicine line.

Nikkei staff writers

August 19, 2020 11:37 JST

Updated on August 19, 2020 12:10 JST

TOKYO -- Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical has decided to sell its nonprescription drugs business, including vitamin drug Alinamin, to major U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Group for about 250 billion yen ($2.37 billion)

The company intends to reduce debt swollen by Takeda's acquisition of Shire, the U.K. biotech company, and concentrate its management resources on developing prescription drugs, especially cancer treatments.