Under the deal, Takeda will use GE’s diagnostic imaging technology to noninvasively map the hardening of liver tissue.
Combining the strengths of the two companies, the collaboration is aimed at developing therapeutic drugs as well as new diagnostic technologies for liver diseases.
The progress of liver disease is characterized by a hardening of the tissues due to fibrosis accompanying the inflammation of the liver and a worsening of symptoms due to cirrhosis.
Takeda chief medical and scientific officer Dr Tadataka Yamada said: "This alliance will assist efforts to develop new therapeutic options that ease the burden on the patient. Moving forward, we will continue to put the patient first and incorporate a wide range of innovations into the field of drug discovery."
GE Healthcare Japan chairman kihiko Kumagai said: "We have been focusing efforts on developing technologies to help provide solutions for liver cancer.
"As one location in our global research and development network, Japan, whose strategy is to create solutions for an aging population, has been a driving force behind these efforts. Innovations by GE will continue to contribute to the health of people all around the world."
From the past two decades, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have become the number one cause of liver disease in developed countries.
According to the recent data, NAFLD and NASH play an important role in developing regions like the Middle East, Far East, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Early diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis and development of drugs to control the progression of liver disease has become important issues.
Image: Takeda Midosuji Building, headquarters of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, in Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan. Photo: courtesy ofJ o.