Takeda's ulcerative colitis drug Entyvio was one of the key products behind a 4.2 percent increase in underlying revenue.
Here are six details to know:
1. Takeda's gastroenterology, oncology, neuroscience and emerging market divisions drove the 4.2 percent underlying revenue growth.
2. The key products contributing to revenue growth were Entyvio (33.1 percent) and Ninlaro (38 percent).
3. Takeda's underlying core earnings grew 31.8 percent. Reported operating profit declined 26.6 percent.
4. The company's operating free cash flow decreased 29.7 percent because the drugmaker sold off key assets.
5. Takeda reported 880.6 billion yen in revenue ($7.82 billion).
6. After the strong quarter, Takeda revised its full-year forecast from $1.737 trillion yen to $1.75 trillion yen. ($15.42 billion and $15.53 billion, respectively).
7. Takeda CEO Christophe Weber said, "Strategic focus and superior execution has driven a robust performance in the first half of fiscal 2018, as we continue to deliver against our key priorities to grow the portfolio, strengthen the pipeline and boost profitability."
8. On Takeda's planned acquisition of Shire, Mr. Weber said, "In the first half of the year, we have also achieved several important regulatory and financial milestones toward the proposed acquisition of Shire. I want to emphasize that Takeda's current strategy is working, and that the Takeda board, Takeda executive team and I are confident that the acquisition of Shire will enable Takeda to significantly accelerate its transformational journey to become a global, values-based, [research and development]-driven, biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan."