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Japan’s Takeda to buy Swiss drugmaker

Takeda, Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company, has announced plans to buy Swiss rival Nycomed for $13.6 billion (SFr12 billion).

Nycomed, which has its headquarters in Zurich, is a privately-owned company that produces a variety of prescription as well as over the counter products.

“Nycomed gives us an immediate strong presence in the high-growth emerging markets while doubling Takeda’s European sales,” said Takeda CEO Yasuchika Hasegawa in a statement on Thursday.

Takeda is known for Actos, its diabetes drug. Nycomed’s lung drug roflumilast – known as Daxas in Europe and Daliresp in the United States – is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The deal would not include Nycomed’s US dermatology unit.

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