You are about to leave www.astellas.com and enter a third-party website. Astellas is not responsible for the content or services on the third-party website.
Would you like to continue?
In April 2025, Astellas celebrated our 20th Anniversary as a company. Astellas was established in April 2005 through the merger of two companies – Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical (founded in 1923) and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical (founded in 1894). The merger brought together Yamanouchi's strengths in urological medications and chemical synthesis and Fujisawa's excellence in the transplant/immunology area and fermentation technology, forming an ideal complementary partnership.
Today, Astellas has more than 13,500 employees around the world. Since our founding, we have reached more than 172 million patients in 103 countries and areas with therapies that have helped to transform their lives.
The name ‘Astellas’ expresses the idea of ‘aspired stars’ and ‘advanced stars’ and derives from the Latin word ‘stella,’ Greek ‘aster,’ and English ‘stellar,’ which all refer to ‘stars.’ The name is also connected to the Japanese phrase, ‘Make tomorrow shine.’
1894
Tomokichi Fujisawa founded Fujisawa Shoten in Osaka.
1897
Fujisawa Shoten launched Fujisawa Camphor as a home-use insect repellent.
1923
Kenji Yamauchi founded Yamanouchi Yakuhin Shokai in Osaka. Changed the name to Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in 1940. Moved the head office to Tokyo in 1942.
1943
Fujisawa Shoten changed the company name to Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
1964
Fujisawa Central Laboratory completed.
1970
Yamanouchi launched antibiotic drug Josamycin.
1971
Fujisawa launched Cefamezin, an injectable antibiotic, and proceeded to market it worldwide.
1977
Fujisawa established Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Corp., the company's first business base in the U.S.
1979
Fujisawa opened a London Office, the company's first business base in Europe.
1981
Yamanouchi launched Perdipine, an agent for the treatment of hypertension.
1983
Tsukuba Laboratory of Fujisawa completed.
1985
Yamanouchi launched Gaster, an H2 receptor antagonist. Currently sold in more than 100 countries and areas.
1986
Yamanouchi established Yamanouchi Ireland Co., Ltd. in Europe, the first overseas production base for active pharmaceutical ingredients.
1989
Tsukuba Laboratory of Yamanouchi completed.
1990
Yamanouchi acquired the pharmaceutical division of Royal Gist Brocades in the Netherlands.
1991
Fujisawa established Fujisawa Europe GmbH in Germany.
1993
Yamanouchi launched Harnal for the treatment of impaired urination. Currently sold in more than 90 countries and areas.
Fujisawa launched immunosuppressant Prograf. Currently sold in about 100 countries and areas.
1994
Yamanouchi established Shenyang Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in China.
1998
Fujisawa restructured the business in the U.S. and founded Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc.
1999
Fujisawa launched Protopic, an agent to treat atopic dermatitis. Currently sold in about 60 countries and areas.
2000
Yamanouchi began marketing Lipitor, an agent to treat hypercholesterolemia, in Japan.
2001
Yamanouchi established Yamanouchi Pharma America, Inc. in the U.S., as a sales base of the company in the U.S.
2004
Yamanouchi launched Vesicare, an agent for overactive bladder treatment, in Europe. Launched in the U.S. as well in 2005.
OTC businesses of both Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. were integrated on October 1, 2004, to form Zepharma Inc.
2005
Astellas Pharma Inc. (Astellas) was established by merging the former Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and the former Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
2006
Astellas sold Zephama, operating in the over-the-counter drug business, to Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. in Japan.
2007
Astellas launched Geninax™, an oral new-type quinolone antibacterial agent in Japan.
Astellas acquired Agensys, Inc., a biotechnology company in the U.S.
2010
Astellas acquired OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company in the U.S.
2011
Astellas launched Betanis™ in Japan for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB).
Astellas signed United Nations Global Compact.
2012
Astellas launched a wind turbine power generation station and a woodchip biomass boiler in the Kerry Plant in Ireland.
Astellas participated in a new public-private partnership to develop a treatment for schistosomiasis-infected preschool children.
Astellas launched XTANDI™ in the U.S. for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Astellas launched Gonax™ in Japan for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Astellas entered collaborative new drug discovery research with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) for neglected tropical diseases caused by protozoan parasites.
Astellas launched MYRBETRIQ™ in the U.S. for the treatment of OAB.
2013
Astellas and UCB Japan Co. Ltd. launched Cimzia™ in Japan for the treatment of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Astellas announced participation in Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund).
2014
Astellas launched Suglat™ in Japan for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Astellas funded a €1.5 million groundbreaking program to tackle obstetric fistula in Kenya.
Astellas launched XTANDI™ in Japan for the treatment of prostate cancer.
2015
Astellas unveils the corporate VISION.
2016
Astellas acquired Ocata Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company in the U.S.
Astellas launched Repatha™ in Japan for the treatment of high cholesterol.
Astellas and World Anti-Doping Agency announced global initiative to prevent misuse and abuse of medicines for doping in sports.
Astellas acquired Ganymed Pharmaceuticals AG, a biopharmaceutical company in Germany.
2017
Astellas participated in Access Accelerated, a global initiative aimed at improving access to non-communicable disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Astellas launched LINZESS™ in Japan for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.
Astellas acquired Ogeda SA, a drug discovery company in Belgium.
Astellas entered into a new collaborative research agreement with TB Alliance to discover anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Astellas entered into a screening collaboration agreement with Medicines for Malaria Venture to discover antimalarial drugs.
2018
Astellas acquired Mitobridge, Inc., a bio-venture company in the U.S.
Astellas acquired Universal Cells, Inc., a bio-venture company in the U.S.
Astellas participated in Neglected Tropical Diseases Drug Discovery Booster consortium with Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and seven other pharmaceutical companies.
Astellas acquired Quethera Limited, a bio-venture company in the U.K.
Astellas launched Dafclir™ in Japan for the treatment of infectious enteritis caused by Clostridium difficile.
Science Based Targets Initiative approved Astellas’ greenhouse gas reduction plan.
Astellas launched BLINCYTO™ in Japan for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Astellas launched the Astellas Global Health Foundation to support improving access to health for underserved populations.
Astellas launched XOSPATA™ in Japan and the U.S. to provide a therapeutic option for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.
Astellas acquired Potenza Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company in the U.S.
2019
Astellas launched EVENITY™ in Japan for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Astellas launched Smyraf™ in Japan for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients.
Astellas launched Evrenzo™ in Japan for the treatment of renal anemia in patients on dialysis.
Astellas acquired Xyphos Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company in the U.S.
Astellas launched PADCEV™ in the U.S. for the treatment of urothelial cancer.
2020
Astellas acquired Audentes Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company in the U.S.
Astellas acquired Nanna Therapeutics Limited, a biotechnology company in the U.K.
Astellas acquired iota Biosciences, Inc., a start-up company in the U.S.
Astellas supported recommendations of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Astellas launches science-based fitness service Fit-eNce®.
2021
Astellas established Astellas Gene Therapies as its Global Gene Therapy Center of Excellence.
Astellas began providing Holter ECG analysis service using AI.
Astellas was named to FTSE4Good Index Series for 10th consecutive year.
Astellas began using environmentally friendly biomass-based plastic for blister packages, the primary packaging for drugs, for the first time in the world.
2022
Astellas initiated support program to provide charitable donations to four organizations focused on improving access to health.
Astellas established new manufacturing lines for aseptic drug products at Yaizu Technology Center.
Astellas launches PADCEV™ in EU.
2023
Astellas received Science Based Targets initiatives (SBTi) approval for revised Science-Based Climate Goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Astellas acquired Iveric Bio, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company in the U.S.
Astellas established TME iLab, an open innovation hub for tumor microenvironment research.
Astellas established SakuLab™-Tsukuba in Astellas Tsukuba Research Center.
Astellas acquired Propella Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company in the U.S.
Astellas launched VEOZAH® in US for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms due to menopause.
Astellas launched IZERVAY® in US for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Astellas launched VEOZA™ in EU.
2024
Astellas launched VYLOY® in Japan and US for the treatment of advanced gastric and GEJ cancer.
US FDA listed DIGITIVA™ for the management of heart failure.
Astellas opened new West Coast Innovation Center in the South San Francisco Biotech Corridor.
Astellas opened new Life Sciences Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
