Astellas Europe

Astellas Europe represents the regional operations of Astellas Pharma Inc., a Japanese global pharmaceutical company formed in 2005 through the merger of Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker: 4503) and employing approximately 14,000 people worldwide, Astellas positions itself at the intersection of rigorous science and patient-centred value creation, with its European presence playing a significant role in clinical development, commercial operations, and medical affairs across the region.

Therapy Areas and Commercial Portfolio

The company's established commercial portfolio reflects a focused strategy across several specialist areas. In oncology and urology, enzalutamide (marketed as Xtandi) for metastatic prostate cancer stands as one of the group's flagship medicines, developed in partnership with Pfizer. Transplantation medicine remains a historical strength, with tacrolimus (Prograf) continuing to serve patients requiring immunosuppression following organ transplant. Overactive bladder is addressed through mirabegron (Betmiga), a beta-3 adrenoceptor agonist that expanded treatment options beyond established anticholinergic therapies. These products underpin the European business while the pipeline advances next-generation candidates.

Research Priorities and Open Innovation

Astellas concentrates its research investment on four primary scientific focuses: blindness and regeneration, genetic regulation, immuno-oncology, and targeted protein degradation. Drug discovery capabilities support candidate progression from early research through clinical trials, and external funding partnerships broaden the scope of scientific enquiry beyond internal capacity. Open innovation platforms, including the SakuLab facilities in Tsukuba and Cambridge and the TME iLab initiative, provide frameworks for collaboration with external researchers and institutions.

Patient centricity is embedded structurally across the organisation, combining patient partnerships, medical intelligence, behavioural science expertise, and patient insights into a coherent programme that informs both the direction of science and standards of corporate governance. Manufacturing and supply operations complement the research enterprise, supporting the integrated model from discovery to commercial availability across European markets.

Further information is available at astellas.com/eu/.