Inside Takeda’s Plasma-Derived Therapy Ecosystem

Forbes - Feb 11th, 2025
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Takeda's Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit, led by Giles Platford, is addressing critical logistical and economic challenges in the plasma-derived therapies (PDT) sector. Collecting around 15 million liters of blood plasma annually, Takeda aims to meet growing global demand for life-saving treatments. The company, alongside industry giants like CSL Behring and Grifols, is working towards expanding plasma availability and improving patient access worldwide. In 2023, PDT accounted for approximately 21% of Takeda's total revenue, highlighting its significance to the company's financial health.

The industry's reliance on plasma from a few countries, primarily the U.S., underscores the importance of diversifying supply chains. Takeda is actively engaging in advocacy and policy-shaping to encourage global contributions to plasma sourcing. By leveraging technology and AI, Takeda seeks to enhance efficiency and process yield. This strategy is crucial as the global PDT market is projected to nearly double by 2031, driven by increasing demand and improved diagnostic capabilities. The company's commitment to patient advocacy and involvement ensures therapies align with real-world needs, aiming for equitable access and addressing unmet medical demands.

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RATING

7.2
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a thorough overview of Takeda's plasma-derived therapies business, with strong factual accuracy and relevance to current industry trends. It excels in clarity and timeliness, offering insights into the company's strategies and the challenges faced in the global plasma supply chain. However, the focus on a singular perspective limits balance and engagement, as it lacks input from other industry stakeholders or independent experts. Enhancing source quality and incorporating diverse viewpoints could improve the article's impact and public interest value. Overall, the article serves as a solid introduction to the topic but would benefit from a broader exploration of the industry's complexities and challenges.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story presents a comprehensive overview of Takeda's plasma-derived therapies business, with many factual claims supported by established data. For instance, the description of the plasma collection process and the role of Giles Platford aligns with known industry practices and leadership roles. The market valuation for plasma-derived therapies and the revenue data for Takeda are generally accurate, though specific figures should be cross-verified with financial reports or market analyses for precision. The narrative on supply chain vulnerabilities and reliance on U.S. plasma sources is consistent with industry reports, but the exact percentages and projections should be confirmed with additional sources.

7
Balance

The article primarily focuses on Takeda's perspective, providing detailed insights into their operations and strategies. While this offers an in-depth look at the company's efforts, it may lack balance by not sufficiently including perspectives from other industry players like CSL Behring or Grifols, or from independent industry analysts. This could give an impression of favoritism towards Takeda, as alternative viewpoints or critiques of the industry's challenges are not extensively explored.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, presenting information in a logical sequence that aids comprehension. Technical terms related to plasma collection and processing are explained adequately, making the content accessible to readers unfamiliar with the industry. However, the inclusion of unrelated topics, such as Shopify and Trump tariffs, disrupts the narrative flow and could confuse readers.

6
Source quality

The article seems to rely heavily on statements from Giles Platford and Takeda's internal perspectives. While Platford is a credible source given his position, the lack of external validation or third-party sources weakens the overall source quality. Including insights from industry analysts, regulatory bodies, or independent experts would enhance the reliability and depth of the reporting.

7
Transparency

The article is relatively transparent about its focus on Takeda's operations and strategies. However, it could improve by explicitly stating any potential conflicts of interest, such as financial ties between the publication and Takeda, if any exist. The methodology behind market projections and revenue figures is not detailed, which could impact the reader's ability to fully assess the basis of these claims.

Sources

  1. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nanoform-collaborates-with-takeda-on-their-plasma-derived-therapy-development-302223227.html
  2. https://www.takeda.com/en-us/newsroom/news-releases/2024/expanding-production-capacity-for-PDT-at-LA-manufacturing-site/
  3. https://womeningovernment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Takeda-Plasma-Derived-Therapies-Business-Unit.pdf
  4. https://www.takeda.com/en-us/what-we-do/areas-of-focus/plasma-derived-therapies/
  5. https://www.takeda.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2025/takeda-delivers-strong-third-quarter-fy2024-results/