Takeda Pharma is set to lay off 137 employees at its Cambridge, Massachusetts R&D site as the company exits cell therapy research, marking a significant shift in its development priorities. The layoffs will occur early next year and are distinct from previous cutbacks, which saw nearly 1,000 positions eliminated in 2024 as part of broader cost management efforts.
Takeda’s decision is part of a strategic realignment, with resources redirected from cell therapy toward small molecules, biologics, and antibody-drug conjugates—therapeutic modalities deemed to offer greater speed and scale in delivering transformative therapies. The company, which will offer severance and 60-day notice to affected staff, is also seeking an external partner to advance its shelved cell therapy platform and preclinical programs.
Ceasing cell therapy comes after investments in technologies acquired from GammaDelta Therapeutics and Adaptate Biotherapeutics, contributing to an anticipated impairment charge of approximately $394 million for the current fiscal year.
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