UPDATE 1-Takeda to test cancer drug for lymphomas in US - Nikkei

May 28 (Reuters) - Takeda Pharmaceutical Co (4502.T) is working to expand the indications for blood cancer drug Velcade, developed by its U.S. unit, the Nikkei business daily said.

The companies aim to market it for treatment of lymphomas after three years, the paper said.

Takeda's recently acquired Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc unit is marketing the drug in the United States for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

The U.S. patents on Velcade expire in 2017, and before then, Millennium and Takeda plan to broaden the indications to spur as much use as possible, the paper said, without citing any sources.

Millennium, currently in late-stage trials with Velcade for the treatment of two kinds of lymphomas, expects to apply to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for approval to market the drug for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 2011, and for mantle cell lymphoma in 2012, the Nikkei said.

In addition, Millennium is developing Velcade as a subcutaneous injection and aims to apply for approval of that formulation in 2011, the paper said.

The cancer drug is now marketed in the form of a venous injection. (Reporting by Sweta Singh in Bangalore; Editing by Deepak Kannan)