CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In recognition of this year’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month and in conjunction with the second annual ALK+ Day, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502) today announced the launch of tALK+ (Talk Positive), an initiative that highlights positive experiences and stories from the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) community and educates others about anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) NSCLC, a type of lung cancer impacting approximately two to eight percent of NSCLC patients.1 Throughout the month and on ALK+ Day, November 13, Takeda will recognize on social media the important strides being made by the NSCLC community, and encourage patients and their families, doctors and researchers to get involved in the tALK+ conversation by:

Following @TakedaOncology on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and sharing positive insights and personal stories of those impacted by ALK+ NSCLC to recognize the significant moments and/or people who have made a positive impact in their lives using the social media hashtag #tALKpositiveNSCLC.

Visiting LivingwithALK.com/tALKpositive to learn facts about ALK+ NSCLC and the people it affects.

For the month of November, every time the hashtag is used, Takeda will make a donation to the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation to advance lung cancer awareness and treatment.

“Through tALK+, our hope is to spark positive, supportive dialogue across the ALK+ NSCLC community that drives education around the differences inherent in this rare form of lung cancer and recognizes the researchers, advocates, patients and loved ones touched by this disease,” said Bonnie J. Addario, Founder, Chair & Lung Cancer Survivor, Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation. “We’re proud to join Takeda in raising awareness about ALK+ NSCLC and demonstrating our support for patients and families.”

In observance of ALK+ Day, Takeda will be hosting a live webinar entitled Overview of ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) on November 13 at 12:00 p.m. ET and 4:30 p.m. ET. During these live educational events, H. Jack West, MD and Mark Socinski, MD, will review a broad spectrum of topics across the ALK+ NSCLC disease state. To register for one of the webinars, please visit: http://idmeetings.com/OncologyWebcast.

“I look forward to joining Takeda in raising awareness about ALK+ NSCLC and participating in the upcoming live educational webinar events this ALK+ Day,” said H. Jack West, MD, Medical Director, Thoracic Oncology Program, Swedish Cancer Institute. “For Lung Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, it is important to advance education and understanding of this rare form of cancer, as well as to engage patients to become active participants in the management of their disease.”

This month, Takeda is also launching the ALKConnect Registry, a patient-focused registry that collects information and insights directly from patients living with ALK+ NSCLC to better understand their experiences living with the disease. On the platform, patients have the opportunity to participate in surveys to share experiences, access data and insights from other registry participants, and learn about new research studies in the ALK+ NSCLC space. For more information, please visit ALKConnect.com.

About ALK+ NSCLC

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85 percent of the estimated 222,500 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Genetic studies indicate that chromosomal rearrangements in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) are key drivers in a subset of NSCLC patients. Approximately two to eight percent of patients with metastatic NSCLC have a rearrangement in the ALK gene.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is a global, research and development-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas plus vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation. New innovative products, especially in oncology and gastroenterology, as well as our presence in Emerging Markets, fuel the growth of Takeda. More than 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients, working with our partners in health care in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit http://www.takeda.com/news.

Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate website, www.takeda.com, and additional information about Takeda Oncology, the brand for the global oncology business unit of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, is available through its website, www.takedaoncology.com.

1 Guérin A, et al. J Med Econ, 2015;18(4):312-322.