Narrowing Pipelines Lower Profits Of Japan's Big Three Pharmaceutical Outfits

Thinning drug pipelines of Japan's major pharmaceutical companies began to have an effect on company net profits during the first quarter of the fiscal year. Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai and Takeda each reported a profit decline, with part of the problem due to the cost of recent acquisitions and/or a fluctuating yen. But Takeda also got hit with a delay in U.S. approval of a major diabetes drug and Eisai saw declining sales for its major Alzheimer's drug. All three companies, however, maintained their projected earnings through next March. (Click here for more - a subscription may be required