TAP began in 1977 as a joint venture between two global pharmaceutical leaders, Abbott, based in the United States, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, based in Japan. TAP was created as a kind of "virtual" pharmaceutical company—designed, for example, without any internal discovery organization or manufacturing facilities. From the beginning, the company's corporate structure and business model were unique. TAP went outside for new compounds, and by doing so developed a flexible and versatile culture. At first, TAP acquired early-stage drug compounds solely from one of its parent companies, Takeda. Today TAP works with both Abbott and Takeda and searches the world for in-licensing opportunities, focusing its efforts on rapid, high-quality drug development, and marketing and sales in North America.

TAP has built a culture from the bottom up, on a foundation of shared core values; TAP is a place where communication and collaboration are the keys to achieving goals. The people of TAP have created a spirit that is truly remarkable. In TAP's culture, everyone has a voice, and each voice is heard.

This environment has enabled the people of TAP to express their creativity and has fueled the company's constant commitment to innovation. This commitment is evidenced in TAP's approach to science and quality, in the way the employees work with customers, and in TAP's non-traditional approaches to technology, development, and collaboration.

TAP has a culture that combines an endorsement of genuine empowerment of each person with a true entrepreneurial spirit. But TAP is more than a collection of separate efforts. The people of TAP are united by their collective desire to improve the lives of patients, and they find there is a great synergy in working together toward this common goal.

Over the years, TAP has also built one of the most highly trained and dedicated sales forces in the industry. TAP is proud of what they do—and the way they do it. TAP's sales organization is the best in the business. The sales people function as a team, driven by their shared sense of purpose. They reach out to create partnerships with physicians; they collaborate with them to provide crucial health care information to patients, health care providers, managed care organizations, and hospitals.

A central value that guides all of TAP's business decisions is a deep commitment to living and working by the highest ethical business standards. The people of TAP want to do the right thing, and they are dedicated to doing it the right way.

Fourteen years ago, TAP had 200 employees. Today, the company has grown to more than 3,300 employees. As TAP evolves and grows to meet the needs of customers, the challenge will be to maintain the energy and optimism that makes TAP unique. Ultimately, it is not the size of the company that matters—TAP's success will be measured by how well the company meets the challenge of serving patients. TAP believes that the best way to meet that challenge is to live and work by its mission and the Spirit of TAP.

TAP's structure and culture have provided it with a strong legacy of leadership and responsibility. TAP is committed to delivering life-enhancing products to people who need them.