32 Danish-Japanese partnership – the American way Antidepressants of the future are being developed jointly by <strong>Lundbeck</strong> and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company.
<strong>Lundbeck</strong> Magazine 2009 33 In 2007, <strong>Lundbeck</strong> entered into a strategic alliance with Takeda, Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company. The partnership involves further development of a new series of compounds for treatment of disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as marketing of the finished drugs in Japan and the United States. The substances, which were discovered by <strong>Lundbeck</strong>, belong to a totally new pharmacological class of drugs. It is expected that these drugs will be superior to current antidepressants in a number of areas. Researchers from <strong>Lundbeck</strong> in Denmark are participating in the development activities, together with Takeda’s US subsidiary, Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc. located at Deerfield, Illinois, near Chicago. At least once a month, Marianne Dragheim, Senior Specialist and Medical Doctor, boards an aeroplane for Chicago to meet with her colleagues at Takeda. Marianne is in charge of the clinical aspects of the project at <strong>Lundbeck</strong>, and sees clear advantages in the alliance with our Japanese partner. Ambitious plan “Without our partnership with Takeda, we would not have advanced to the current stage. <strong>Lundbeck</strong> would not have been able to do it alone, as we have neither the resources nor the necessary staff. <strong>Lundbeck</strong> has the know-how and Takeda has the resources for developing drugs to treat disorders of the central nervous system. This is why companies form strategic alliances; a company needs a partner to help bear part of the burden. We have had a clear vision of what we want to do from the very beginning – and a very ambitious schedule for the project. I think Takeda thought we were a bit mad when we first showed it to them,” Marianne says. Amazed and fascinated Atul Mahableshwarkar, Senior Medical Director with Takeda and psychiatrist by training, is in charge of the clinical aspects of the project. He, and others were hired by Takeda to work with <strong>Lundbeck</strong> on this project. Atul clearly remembers his initial reaction on being introduced to it for the first time. “I was amazed at both the scope and the time horizon, but now I am fascinated by how well it has gone. Merely developing an antidepressant for multiple indications – depression and anxiety – at the same time is new and has not been done simultaneously before. In fact, one of our key opinion leaders has suggested that we publish a report on our work, once the substances are on the market, because this is something we can be proud of, and it can be used as an example of how to do things correctly,” Atul says. Learning from each other Transatlantic collaboration requires planning, but it is worth the effort, he believes. “We come from our own two cultures, so we approach things in different ways. Our various backgrounds enhance our perspective of developing pharmaceuticals. One of the major benefits of our collaboration is being able to draw on our wide ranges of experience. <strong>Lundbeck</strong> has developed many other drugs for use in the CNS field. Takeda's contribution is our experience in developing drugs in the United States. In addition to my drug development experience, I personally have treated thousands of persons for depression. Moreover, <strong>Lundbeck</strong> and Takeda both have experience in their various markets. Registering a drug with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is different than registering with the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). We learn from each other all the time, and I have benefited from working with my <strong>Lundbeck</strong> colleagues. Of course there are challenges in combining two different corporate cultures and ways of working, but we have a common goal of which we are aligned around,” Atul states. Mutual values <strong>Lundbeck</strong> and Takeda are jointly responsible for the project. “All decisions are made jointly, and we must always concur in major decisions. Working together also enables us to use our resources better. And while we are pressed for time, everyone is very committed and in total agreement on the goal. Not all companies are like that, but <strong>Lundbeck</strong> and Takeda are similar in this respect. There are people on both sides of the Atlantic who have been working very hard for a very long time. This is true of everyone who is involved in the project, not just the front figures. Staff members grow with a project when they are included the way they are at both Takeda and <strong>Lundbeck</strong>,” Marianne says. Looking forward to approval She thrives under pressure. “I am happiest when all the odds are against us. But if I had to do it again, I would probably try to ensure that we had more of the necessary resources,” says Marianne. Atul is looking forward to seeing the first substances approved as drugs in Europe and the United States during the coming years. “And I would be incredibly happy if I sometime in future – perhaps 15 years from now – could say that millions of people’s lives are better because of the work we have done together. That is my motivating force,” says Atul. PHOTO: Joachim ladefoged
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