Takeda may sell Shire assets to reduce debt following $62-billion purchase

According to people close to the situation, Takeda is considering selling Shire's eye-care business, including the dry eye disease treatment Xiidra (lifitegrast), once it completes the purchase of the company, Bloomberg reported Thursday. The sources noted that the move would be taken to reduce debt raised to fund the $62-billion acquisition, which is expected to close in the first half of 2019.

The people added that Takeda is also weighing a possible sale of Shire's recombinant human parathyroid hormone Natpara, which is used to control low blood calcium levels related to decreased parathyroid hormone. According to the sources, the potential divestments could raise between $4 billion and $5 billion for Takeda, although discussions around the plans are at an early stage.

The people added that Takeda's over-the-counter drug business has also drawn interest from buyers, although the company has no plans to divest it. However, any sale of Shire's assets would only happen after Takeda's takeover of the drugmaker is completed, the sources said.

Shortly after reaching the deal to buy Shire, Takeda CEO Christophe Weber said that the drugmaker will pursue the large spending cuts needed to make the purchase viable without affecting innovation. Earlier this week, Takeda indicated that it plans to close its US office in Deerfield, Illinois​, and ​move to the Boston area, with work performed at the former site progressively transferred to Massachusetts after the purchase of Shire is finalised.

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