Astellas Pharma Inc. | History

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History

History of the Former Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
1923	Kenji Yamanouchi founded Yamanouchi Yakuhin Shokai in Osaka. Changed the name to Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in 1940, Moves the head office to Tokyo in 1942
1970	Launched antibiotic drug "Josamycin"
1981	Launched "Perdipine," an agent for the treatment of hypertension
1985	Launched "Gaster," an H₂ reseptor antagonist diseases/gastritis Currently sold in more than 100 countries
1986	Established Yamanouchi Ireland Co., Ltd. in Europe The first overseas production base for active pharmaceutical ingredients
1989	Tsukuba laboratory completed
1990	Acquired the pharmaceutical division of Royal Gist Brocades (Netherlands)
1993	Launched "Harnal" Currently sold in more than 90 countries
1994	Established Shenyang Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in China
2000	Launched "Lipitor," an agent to treat hypercholesterolemia
2001	Established Yamanouchi Pharma America, Inc. in the U.S. Sales base of the company in the U.S.
2004	Launched "Vesicare," an agent for overactive bladder treatment, in Europe Launched in the U.S. as well in 2005 OTC businesses of both companies were integrated in October 1, 2004 to form Zepharma Inc.

History of the Former Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
1894	Tomokichi Fujisawa founded Fujisawa Shoten in Osaka
1897	Launched "Fujisawa Camphor" as a home-use insect repellent
1943	Changed the company name to Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
1964	Central Laboratory completed
1971	Launched "Cefamezin," an antibiotic for injections Proceeds to market it worldwide.
1977	Established Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Corp. in the U.S. The company's first business base in the U.S.
1979	Opened a London Office, the company's first business base in Europe
1983	Tsukuba Laboratory completed
1991	Established Fujisawa Europe GmbH in Germany
1993	Launched immunosuppressant "Prograf" Currently sold in about 80 countries
1998	Restructured the business in the U.S., founds Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc.
1999	Launched "Protopic," an agent to treat atopic dermatitis Currently sold in about 60 countries
2004	OTC businesses of both companies were integrated in October 1, 2004 to form Zepharma Inc.

April 1, 2005 Astellas Pharma Inc. was established

Photo of a scene from the joint press release

History of Astellas Pharma Inc.
May 2005	Launched "Mycamine," an intravenous candin antifungal agent
April 2006	Launched "Vaprisol," an agent for the treatment of hyponatremia, in the U.S. Sold Zephama shared to Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.
June 2006	Launched "Vesicare," an agent for overactive bladder treatment, in Japan
June 2007	Launched immunosuppresant "Advagraf" in Europe
Jan 2008	Acquired Agensys, Inc

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