News and Press Releases

Takeda San Diego Employees Partner with Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Friday October 29, 2009 – Science Center Drive was a sea of pink yesterday as Takeda San Diego (TSD) employees donned t-shirts and adorned canine companions with matching pink bandanas in a TSD sponsored charity walk to stomp out breast cancer. Over one hundred workers teamed up with their favorite four legged friends, collectively covering 705 miles to raise funds for Susan G. Komen (SGK) for the Cure as part of Takeda’s ongoing commitment to society through Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

                                    

TSD employees’ passion to help people touched by cancer was evidenced by the many walkers on the one mile loop between Takeda’s two San Diego-based research facilities. “I loved the fact that my dog Scarlet was able to participate and that her miles counted toward TSD’s donation,” said Beverly Knight, TSD biologist.   The event took on a global flavor as out of town TSD employees in Boston, fueled by lobster and pasta, followed a 7.2 mile historical course through chilly autumn streets, while other traveling colleagues simultaneously pounded the pavement in the chic Umeda region of Osaka Japan.

 

The charity walk complements TSD’s pharmaceutical research efforts to cure cancer, which together in partnership with Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, have yielded several investigational new drugs in ongoing clinical testing in cancer patients.

 

Wendi Rostan, a TSD paralegal and breast cancer survivor commented, “Breast cancer not only attacks your body but it attacks a woman’s very identity. Susan G. Komen gave that back to me through their many events. Those events, and especially the Race for the Cure, allowed me to feel empowered with the hope, joy and courage shared with fellow survivors. My journey left scars on my body, but also wonderful things including an incredible joy of life, inner peace, curly hair, and chemo that cured 20 years of stomach problems from road trips to Mexico.”

 

According to SGK for the Cure, 75 percent of TSD’s donations will support San Diego organizations involved with breast cancer education, screening, diagnostics, treatment and patient assistance.  The remaining 25 percent will go to National Grant Programs affiliated with SGK to fund international cancer research.

 

Sandy Lee Rabourne, local SGK for the Cure development director, addressed TSD employees at a kick off meeting prior to the walk. “SGK for the Cure has had a hand in every major advancement against breast cancer and after the government is the largest fundraiser for breast cancer research.” Rabourne added, “Help from the community is essential to SGK in order to make great strides against this disease.”

 

 

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

 

Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products. Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate website, www.takeda.com

 

About Takeda San Diego Inc

 

Takeda San Diego Inc., (TSD) is Takeda’s first US-based discovery research operation. TSD achieves an advantage in drug discovery by leveraging its leading structural biology capabilities to determine the three dimensional structures of human protein drug targets. TSD then uses these structures to efficiently create best-in-class drug candidates to treat diabetes, cancer, and inflammation. Additional information about Takeda San Diego is available at www.takedasd.com

 

About Millennium

 

Millennium Pharmaceuticals, The Takeda Oncology Company, is a leading biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Mass. that markets VELCADE, a cancer product, and has a robust clinical development pipeline of product candidates. The research, development and commercialization activities at Millennium are focused in oncology. By applying its knowledge of the human genome, understanding of disease mechanisms and industrialized drug discovery platform, Millennium is developing an exciting pipeline of innovative product candidates. The Millennium website is www.millennium.com.

 

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

 

Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

 

Formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and often referred to as simply Komen, is an organization supporting breast cancer research.  Since its inception in 1982, Komen has raised over $1.3 billion for research, education and health services, making it the largest breast cancer charity in the world. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together tosave lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. Additional information can be found at www.komen.org

 

Contact:

 

Takeda San Diego, Inc.

Corporate Communications/Public Relations

Shant Salakian  

Tel: +1-858-731-3573

E-mail: shant.salakian@takedasd.com

 

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