Apr 8, 2016

Pharmaceutical giant Takeda’s new Brooklyn Park facility will focus on manufacturing its drug Entyvio, which is used to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Submitted photo Progress MN: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Limited By: Dan Heilman April 8, 20161:25 am 0 Business: Pharmaceutical products Based: 9960-9992 Winnetka Ave. N., Brooklyn Park (Minnesota headquarters) Founded: 1781 Senior director: Eric Hahn, senior director and site head, biologics operations and engineering (in charge of manufacturing and operations in Minnesota) Employee count: 42 currently at Brooklyn Park site Website: www.takeda.us Sometimes the right property comes along at the right time. That was the case for the Minnesota division of Takeda, the Japan-based pharmaceutical giant, when it found a 215,000-square-foot building in Brooklyn Park that had previously been occupied by Baxalta, a spinoff company of Baxter International. The purpose of the purchase was to help Takeda internalize some of its biologics manufacturing, according to Erich Hahn, who runs Takeda’s Minnesota manufacturing operations. The site in Brooklyn Park represented a place for Takeda to manufacture its drug Entyvio, which is used to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease – as well as to create work for more than 40 people from Baxter, with 150 more hires planned over the next two years. “The facility is state-of-the-art and an excellent fit in terms of scale and capabilities to produce Entyvio,” said Hahn. “The facility is designed for multi-product operation, which is important for Takeda as we look at flexibility and growth.” The purchase was serendipitous as not only was Baxter looking to get rid of it, but state, city and academic entities were eager to bring Takeda in. According to Hahn, the company plans to complete facility modifications next year, followed by FDA paperwork to allow drug manufacturing at the facility, with commercial approval expected in 2019. Share this: