For multinational pharmaceutical corporations like Takeda China, based in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, the lengthy and expensive research and development (R&D) cycles of innovative drugs underscore the critical importance of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, as emphasized by Naoto Oizumi, the company's legal senior patent counsel.

China's unwavering commitment to safeguarding IPR has significantly bolstered Takeda's confidence in investing in Shanghai. Between 2015 and 2020, the pharmaceutical titan invested a substantial 1.5 billion yuan ($208 million) in new drug R&D. This investment has yielded fruitful results, with 15 innovative products successfully launched in the Chinese market from 2020 to 2024.