Tokyo, Japan, October 1, 2013 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo: 4503, President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka, hereinafter called “Astellas”) established today Innovation Management (“AIM”), as announced in its press release dated May 14, 2013, “Reshaping research framework to enhance the ability to generate innovative drugs,” in order to enhance and accelerate the process of screening and acquiring external opportunities to strengthen innovation during the preclinical development stage.
Astellas has proceeded with the reshaping research framework and introduction of new initiatives in order to further enhance the ability to generate innovative drugs. AIM has been established as one of such initiatives.
AIM oversees external strategic alliance activities, currently undertaken by multiple departments including Astellas Venture Management LLC and is responsible for a series of activities in acquiring external innovation opportunities in the preclinical development stage, such as strategy planning, screening, scientific assessment and alliance negotiations, so that strategic external business alliances can be systematically and strategically performed.
Further, AIM draws more broadly on external innovation opportunities arising in areas such as academia and unexplored external innovation.
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