BRIEF — Takeda takes out 500 billion yen loan to fund Shire deal

Takeda has taken out a 500 billion yen ($4.5 billion) loan as it seeks to pay for the $62 billion takeover of Shire, announced in May.

The Japanese pharma major has described this as a ‘significant milestone in the proposed acquisition’ of the Ireland-incorporated drugmaker.

Last week Takeda said that the Japanese Fair Trade Commission had approved the acquisition, which is set to make the firm one of the world’s top 10 pharma companies.