Corporate Announcements

Yamanouchi, Fujisawa Unite to Form Astellas Pharma - Canadian operation based in Markham, Ontario

New Entity Ranks Astellas Among Top 20 Worldwide Pharmaceutical Companies

Markham, Ontario, April 1, 2005 — Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. officially combined operations today into a new corporation named Astellas Pharma, Inc. The merged company ranks among the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies in the world in terms of annual sales. In Canada, Astellas will operate commercially under the name Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. with offices located in Markham, Ontario.

These two Japanese pharmaceutical organizations, founded in 1894 and 1923 respectively, have complementary health care expertise, products, practices and business models. This compatibility allows the newly formed Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. to place greater emphasis on product discovery and development in its current therapeutic areas — immunology, infectious disease, dermatology, urology and cardiovascular disease.

“As Astellas, we will build on nearly two centuries of collective experience to create a unique place in the global pharmaceutical landscape where true innovation is valued and rewarded,” said Makoto Nishimura, Ph.D., chairman and CEO of Astellas Pharma US, Inc. “We will continue to focus our efforts on developing breakthrough pharmaceutical products that meet the greatest unmet medical needs of patients. We believe that our long-term strategy for growing established franchise businesses will distinguish us as a company focused on developing breakthrough treatments.

“Our core medical franchises, world-class technology, depth of resources and highly-educated, hard-working people support the top quality that physicians and patients trust, and can expect from the Astellas name,” said Dr. Nishimura.

Hiromu Ozaki, who has been involved in Fujisawa’s North American business development for more than 20 years, is President of Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. “Astellas Pharma Canada looks forward to benefiting from an enriched pipeline as well as all of the synergies that will result when resources are maximized to their fullest potential”, said Mr. Ozaki.

Astellas’ focus will be on developing breakthrough products in the areas of immunology, infectious diseases, dermatology, urology and cardiovascular disease while continuing to explore unmet needs in other areas. The company will continue to support its mainstay, prescription products including Prograf® for the prevention and treatment of organ rejection after liver and kidney transplants and Protopic®, a topical immunomodulator and part of a class of non-steroidal eczema therapy indicated for the second-line treatment of moderate to severe eczema.

The Astellas worldwide headquarters is located in Tokyo. Astellas’ North American operations will be based in Chicago, Ill., with European headquarters located in London, U.K. Additional Asian operations are located in China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia.

Additional corporate and product information is available at www.astellas.com/ca. Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. is one of the Astellas Group Companies in North America, a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc., located in Tokyo, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. In April 2005, the company was formed through the merger of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, and Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The organization is committed to becoming a global mega pharmaceutical company by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities and continuing to grow in the world pharmaceutical market.