Business Wire

MA-TAKEDA-PHARMACEUTICAL

3.6.2024 12:46:31 CEST | Business Wire | Press release

Share
Takeda’s TAK-861 Phase 2b Late-Breaking Data Presentations at SLEEP 2024 Demonstrate Clinically Meaningful Impact of Oral Orexin Agonist in Narcolepsy Type 1 Compared to Placebo

Takeda (TSE: 4502/NYSE:TAK) will present today positive results from its Phase 2b trial of TAK-861 in narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) as late-breaking data presentations at SLEEP 2024, the 38th annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society. TAK-861 is an investigational oral orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist and, based on the results, has the potential to provide transformative efficacy in addressing the overall disease burden in people with NT1​. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple dose trial, TAK-861-2001 (NCT05687903), in 112 patients with NT1 demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements across primary and secondary endpoints, with efficacy sustained over 8 weeks of treatment.*

NT1 is a chronic, rare neurological central disorder of hypersomnolence caused by a significant loss of orexin neurons, resulting in low levels of orexin neuropeptides in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. No currently approved treatments target the underlying pathophysiology of NT1. People with NT1 suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), disrupted nighttime sleep, hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. These debilitating symptoms lead to a markedly reduced quality of life and can severely impact job performance, academic achievement and personal relationships. TAK-861 is designed to address the orexin deficiency in NT1 by selectively stimulating the orexin receptor 2.

The presentation highlights results from the Phase 2b trial including:

  • The primary endpoint demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful increased sleep latency on the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) versus placebo across all doses (LS mean difference versus placebo all p ≤0.001). Improvements were sustained over 8 weeks.
  • Consistent results were achieved in the key secondary endpoints including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Weekly Cataplexy Rate (WCR), demonstrating significantly improved subjective measures of sleepiness and cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone) frequency versus placebo that were also sustained over 8 weeks.
  • The majority of NT1 patients in the trial were found to be within normative ranges for MWT and ESS by the end of the 8-week treatment period as a result of these sustained improvements.
  • The majority of the participants who completed the trial enrolled in the long-term extension (LTE) study with some patients reaching one year of treatment.
  • The trial also included additional exploratory endpoints that showed meaningful improvements in narcolepsy symptoms and functioning according to most participants. These data will also be presented in poster presentations at SLEEP and at future scientific congresses.
  • The dataset showed that TAK-861 was generally safe and well tolerated during the study, with no treatment-related serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) or discontinuations due to TEAEs.
  • No cases of hepatotoxicity or visual disturbances were reported in the Phase 2b trial or in the ongoing LTE study. The most common TEAEs were insomnia, urinary urgency and frequency, and salivary hypersecretion. Most TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity, and most started within 1-2 days of treatment and were transient.

“In this trial, TAK-861's profile balanced efficacy and safety with the potential to establish a new standard of care for people with NT1,” said Sarah Sheikh, M.D., M.Sc., B.M., B.Ch., MRCP, Head, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area Unit and Head, Global Development at Takeda. “We are dedicated to investigating the full potential of orexin biology and advancing TAK-861 to late-stage clinical trials, with the ultimate goal of delivering a potential first-in-class treatment that can make a meaningful difference for patients.”

Based on these results, and in consultation with global health authorities, Takeda plans to initiate global Phase 3 trials of TAK-861 in NT1 in the first half of its fiscal year 2024. The Phase 2b data also supported the recent Breakthrough Therapy designation for TAK-861 for the treatment of EDS in NT1 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Breakthrough Therapy designation is a process designed to expedite the development and review of a drug that is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition, for which preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapies on at least one clinically significant endpoint.

Takeda will be hosting a call to discuss these data this evening, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. CT for investors and analysts. Presentation slides and a virtual meeting link will be available here.

Additional presentations on TAK-861 will be shared during the SLEEP 2024 poster presentation session on Tuesday, June 4, from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. CT, assessing function and health-related quality of life in individuals with NT1, as well as patient satisfaction with TAK-861 treatment.

There is no change in Takeda’s full year consolidated forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 (FY2024), announced on May 9, 2024.

About Takeda’s Orexin Franchise

Takeda is advancing the field of orexin therapeutics with a multi-asset franchise offering tailored treatments to unlock the full potential of orexin. Orexin is a key regulator of the sleep-wake cycle and is involved in other essential functions, including respiration and metabolism. TAK-861 is the leading program in this franchise. The company is also progressing multiple orexin agonists in patient populations with normal levels of orexin neuropeptides and other indications where orexin biology is implicated. This includes TAK-360, an oral OX2R agonist being investigated for narcolepsy type 2 and idiopathic hypersomnia, which recently initiated a Phase 1 trial and received Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA, and danavorexton (TAK-925), an intravenously administered OX2R agonist being investigated in a Phase 2 trial in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea undergoing general anesthesia.

About Takeda

Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.

* The topline results were announced on February 8, 2024, via a press release, “Takeda Intends to Rapidly Initiate the First Global Phase 3 Trials of TAK-861, an Oral Orexin Agonist, in Narcolepsy Type 1 in First Half of Fiscal Year 2024.”

Important Notice

For the purposes of this notice, “press release” means this document, any oral presentation, any question-and-answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) regarding this release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, “Takeda” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Takeda and its customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which Takeda operates, or on other facets of its business; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takeda’s operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings-and-security-reports/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda’s future results.

Medical Information

This press release contains information about products that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development.

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240531655762/en/

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com
DK

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Samsung Research Reveals Over Half of Europeans Admit to Looking at a Stranger's Phone Screen in Public – With Nearly a Quarter Doing so out of Sheer Curiosity1.4.2026 08:00:00 CEST | Press release

From dating apps to financial details, respondents report seeing a wide range of highly personal information on others' screens 56% of people admit to having looked at strangers’ phone screens accidentally, whereas 24% have done so out of curiosity. 57% identify public transport as the most likely place to notice someone else's screen. While 48%* feel confident they can keep their phone activity private when using it in crowded places, another 52%** acknowledge it is easy to see someone’s screen who is next to you in a public place without trying to look. 33% say they have seen personal content on a stranger’s phone in public. Some smartphone users who have looked at a stranger’s phone screen in public ignore and continue what they were doing (28%) or look away immediately (27%), but others (7%) admit to continuing to look discreetly. The new Samsung Galaxy S26 Privacy Display1 limits side-angle viewing of your screen to protect your privacy in any setting. As millions of Europeans2 ge

RevolKa Reimagines Antibody Engineering with "RevoAb®"1.4.2026 06:30:00 CEST | Press release

A Same-day Sequence Optimization Service to Elevate Antibody Expression Levels by RevolKa’s advanced AI Protein Engineering Engine RevolKa Ltd. (RevolKa), a venture-backed biotech company providing an advanced AI protein engineering technology platform, called aiProtein®, is pleased to announce the official global launch of RevoAb®, an innovative and quick online service for antibody sequence optimization to solve challenges in physicochemical properties, especially antibodyyields. RevoAb®:The Next-Gen AI Antibody Design Since December 2023, RevolKa has provided an antibody optimization services utilizing aiProtein®. The newly launched RevoAb® is a quick intuitive online antibody sequence optimization service that integrates RevolKa’s core technology—the "Refined Naturalness Framework Engineering". RevoAb® is designed to generate antibody framework sequences optimized for improved physicochemical properties, especially protein expression levels, without trade-off of affinity. This allo

Global Beauty Market Grows 10% as AI and E-commerce Reshape Consumer Buying1.4.2026 03:00:00 CEST | Press release

Online sales outpace in-store by 6x as digital-first and AI-influenced commerce accelerates globally NielsenIQ (NYSE:NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, today released its State of Beauty 2026 report, showing the global beauty market grew 10% year-on-year, with E-commerce expanding six times faster than in-store sales. The findings highlight a rapid shift to digital-first, AI-influenced commerce across key global markets. As consumer expectations evolve toward convenience, personalization, and seamless digital experiences, beauty brands are under increasing pressure to adapt. From AI-powered product discovery to social commerce and livestream shopping, the path to purchase is becoming more dynamic—requiring brands to move faster and engage consumers across an increasingly complex ecosystem. Key findings from the State of Beauty 2026 report: Global beauty sales grew 10% year-over-year, driven by strong digital acceleration E-commerce is growing 6x faster than in-store sales,

bet365 Partners with TestMu AI to Accelerate Global Release Velocity with Agentic AI Quality Engineering31.3.2026 19:01:00 CEST | Press release

Streamlines Hillside Technology testing across browsers and mobile devices while supporting rapid expansion into regulated markets. TestMu AI (Formerly LambdaTest), the world's first full-stack Agentic AI Quality Engineering platform, today announced that Hillside Technology Limited, the technology powerhouse behind global online gambling leader bet365, has adopted its platform to unify software testing and support hundreds of weekly production releases. The global online gaming industry is currently experiencing a massive shift, with the market projected to exceed $150 billion by 2030. As mobile gaming becomes the primary touchpoint for users, the technical complexity of delivering a seamless, low-latency experience has grown exponentially. For industry giants like bet365, the need to validate software across an infinite matrix of hardware, screen resolutions, and OS versions is a mission-critical requirement. This partnership ensures that, as gaming becomes more mobile-centric, bet36

IFF Secures First Heart Health Claim for Soy Protein in Australia and New Zealand31.3.2026 16:00:00 CEST | Press release

Regulatory milestone opens heart health growth opportunities for food and beverage manufacturers IFF (NYSE: IFF), a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences announced today that a new heart health claim for isolated soy protein has been accepted by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). The approval enables food and beverage manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand to link soy protein consumption with healthy blood cholesterol levels. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260330523416/en/ First heart health claim approved for soy protein in Australia and New Zealand. “For decades, IFF has invested in the science behind soy protein and its role in supporting cardiovascular health,” said Tony Andrew, vice president of protein solutions for IFF Food Ingredients. “This approved claim validates years of rigorous research and collaboration. With our deep expertise in ing

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye