Takeda R&D chief Andy Plump to retire after string of recent FDA approvals

Takeda's long-serving research and development president Andy Plump will step down in June. He joined the Japanese drugmaker in 2015 from Sanofi and has led the R&D organization since then.

His exit follows a wave of FDA approvals that include the narcolepsy treatment Orzeyful and the blood-cancer drug Mimrylo, as well as earlier clearances for the antiviral Livtencity, the clotting disorder therapy Adzynma and the eosinophilic esophagitis drug Eohilia. Takeda also reported positive phase-3 results for the psoriasis TYK2 inhibitor zasocitinib.

The incoming R&D chief will inherit the task of launching new products to replace revenue lost from the upcoming generic competition for the inflammatory bowel disease drug Entyvio, building on the pipeline momentum generated under Plump's tenure.