TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd <4502.T> said on Tuesday it received a key U.S. regulatory approval for the $62 billion (46.78 billion pounds) acquisition of London-listed Shire Plc <SHP.L>.
Takeda has received unconditional clearance from the United States Federal Trade Commission for the Shire deal, the drugmaker said.
The Shire deal would turn Takeda into one of the world's largest drugmakers.
However, the remaining hurdles for the Tokyo-listed company include getting a regulatory nod from the European Union and China and approval from shareholders of both drugmakers.
Chief Executive Christophe Weber has been working to persuade investors about the deal, which has weighed heavily on Takeda's stock price.
Takeda shares closed flat on Tuesday, while the statement was released after trading hours.
It expects the deal to close in the first half on 2019, Takeda said.
(Reporting by Sam Nussey, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
