Millennium sharpens cancer focus under new owner

Since Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. was sold to Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. for $8.8 billion last spring, chief executive Deborah Dunsire said the Cambridge biotechnology company has become more focused on cancer research as Takeda's global cancer research center.

In addition to continuing the development of seven of its own cancer drug candidates, Millennium also took over the development of 14 additional experimental therapies from Takeda.

Dunsire, whose photo was taken from Millennium's website, also said the sale has given the company additional resources and stability.

"We are able to grow in a way that we would have been constrained as an independent company,'' said Dunsire, speaking to about 100 people at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting this morning at the Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common.
(By Todd Wallack, Globe staff)