Takeda to produce innovative MM drug in Russia

Takeda Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4502) has announced the opening of a production site for Ninlaro (ixazomib), an innovative drug for patients with multiple myeloma, at its Yaroslavl plant in Russia.

The move takes the Japanese pharma major’s total investment in local Russian manufacturing and production of the product to 477million roubles ($7.6 million).

Ninlaro, which is part of Takeda’s global portfolio of innovative medicines, is indicated in combination with lenalidomide (Celgene’s Revlimid) and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma patients who have previously received at least one line of therapy. Ninlaro, which has orphan drug status, was first registered in Russia in 2017, and was made available to patients locally in 2018.

The Moscow Arbitration Court recently granted a compulsory license for infamous Russian drugmaker Nativa to use the patent of US biotech major Celgene (Nasdaq: CELG) for the production of its Revlimid within Russia.