Soaring Entyvio sales key to Takeda's turnaround

Japan’s largest drug company, Takeda Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4502), has recovered from losses the previous year to report increased sales and profits in its financial results for the fiscal year ending in March 2016.

Sales for the year rose by 1.7%, reaching 1.81 trillion yen ($16.63 billion), with the 209.5% rise in revenue raised by the Crohn’s disease drug Entyvio (vedolizumab), which was launched around the world during the previous year, a major factor for the growth.

Net profit was 80.2 billion yen, compared to a 1.45 billion yen loss in the 12 months ending March 2015. Earnings per share went from losing 185 yen a year ago, to 102 yen into the black.