Takeda to Sell OTC Drug Unit to Blackstone for $2.3bn

Takeda to Sell OTC Drug Unit to Blackstone for $2.3bn

Aug 19, 2020PR-M08-20-NI-33

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

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.

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