Evolved strategy. Ambitious goals. Transformative execution.
Same deep commitment to our VISION
TOKYO, May 26, 2021 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas”) today announced its new Corporate Strategic Plan 2021 (“CSP2021”) for fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
“Over the last three years, and empowered by CSP2018, we have continued to offer meaningful VALUE for patients1 by translating innovative science into life-changing therapies. We are convinced that the steps taken so far are the right path to drive VALUE creation for patients,” said Kenji Yasukawa, President and CEO, Astellas. “In CSP2021, we are confident that we will achieve our ambitious performance goals by implementing strategies that have evolved and developed our efforts so far.”
(1) Deep Commitment to Our Vision
Astellas' VISION is to be on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients. To realize this VISION, Astellas will continue with the basic long-term strategy behind its previous Corporate Strategic Plan 2018 (“CSP2018”), while further evolving and developing each strategy to strengthen its capabilities and enhance execution through its CSP2021.
Based on newly established Organizational Health Goals outlined in CSP2021, Astellas will transform its ability to execute by fostering a culture where innovation, talent and collaboration come together. Guided by strategic goals that further enhance execution of the company’s Focus Area approach2, accelerate and expand its Primary Focuses3 and ensure that the realized VALUE for patients is maximized, Astellas will achieve its ambitious performance goals.
(2) CSP2021 Overview
The company has set the following performance goals for CSP2021.
I. Sales Revenue of XTANDI® and Strategic Products4: More than 1.2 trillion yen (fiscal year 2025)
II. Focus Area Projects Expected Sales: More than 500 billion yen (fiscal year 2030)
III. Core Operating Profit Margin: More than 30% (fiscal year 2025)
By achieving these performance goals, Astellas will solidify and increase visibility of its pipeline that will bring strong future growth while significantly improving and enhancing profitability. As a result, the company expects to achieve a market capitalization of 7 trillion yen or more in fiscal year 2025.
To realize these ambitions, Astellas has set 4 Strategic Goals:
Strategic Goal 1: Enable Patients to Achieve Better Outcomes
Astellas will maximize the value of XTANDI® and strategic products that drive medium-to-long-term growth, submitting New Drug Applications (NDA) without delay from our plan, reducing the time to achieve broad geographic coverage and implementing sophisticated launch plans.
As part of CSP2021, the company has revised upward the peak sales estimates for XTANDI®, fezolinetant, and XOSPATA®, and provided newly disclosed peak sales estimates for EVRENZO® and AT132. Through continued growth of these products, the company aims to achieve the CSP2021 Performance Goal of sales revenue of more than 1.2 trillion yen in fiscal year 2025.
| Product | Potential Peak Sales (Global, billions of yen) |
| XTANDI® (enzalutamide) | 600-700 |
| fezolinetant | 300-500 |
| PADCEV® (enfortumab vedotin) | 300-400 |
| XOSPATA® (gilteritinib) | 100-200 |
| zolbetuximab | 100-200 |
| EVRENZO® (roxadustat) | 50-100 |
| AT132 (resamirigene bilparvovec) | 50-100 |
Strategic Goal 2: Translate Innovative Science into Proven VALUE
Astellas will enhance its pipeline value by giving priority to investment our resources into its Primary Focuses. The company is also exploring cutting-edge biopharmaceutical innovation designed to effectively take its execution of the Focus Area approach to the next level. Currently, there are approximately 30 projects driving towards clinical proof of concept by the end of fiscal year 2025 in Primary Focus and Primary Focus Candidates. As a result, the company expects to contribute more than 500 billion yen to sales in fiscal year 2030 from these projects.
By implementing Strategic Goals 1 and 2, sales revenue is expected to grow at ~8% per year, alongside the company’s continued focus on investment in new product launch readiness and digital transformation while taking initiatives to drive efficiency and excellence. As a result, the company will hold SG&A expenses in fiscal year 2025 to approximately 390 billion yen, which is the same level as in fiscal year 2020, and reduce the ratio of SG&A to revenue to 21% (fiscal year 2020: 31%).
With this expected strong sales growth, Astellas could achieve its performance goal of core operating profit margin of more than 30% in fiscal year 2025 even if the company increases R&D expenses to 19% of sales in fiscal year 2025 (fiscal year 2020: 18%) and an absolute amount of 350 billion yen.
Strategic Goal 3: Advance the Rx+® Business5
The Rx+® business will enter the stage where efforts for business creation will bear fruit in CSP2021. Astellas will continue to pursue turning innovative science into VALUE for patients in unprecedented ways. During the period of CSP2021, the company plans to commercialize multiple projects including BlueStar®, digital therapeutics for patients with diabetes in Japan, and ASP5354, an imaging agent being investigated for intraoperative ureter visualization in patients undergoing minimally invasive and open abdominopelvic surgeries.
As the company continues to invest in innovative technologies, it expects the Rx+® business to breakeven by fiscal year 2025 and revenue of mid-double-digit billion yen by 2030.
Strategic Goal 4: Deepen our Engagement in Sustainability
Astellas’ core business has always been providing VALUE to society. The company recognizes the importance of efforts to improve sustainability, and strives to improve the sustainability of society and Astellas. In particular, the company will focus on "Access to Health" and "Environment (Climate Change)" with the aim of maintaining and growing stakeholder trust.
(3) Capital Allocation
In fiscal year 2021, Astellas anticipates increasing dividends by 8 yen, with the prospect of moving toward a medium- to long-term profit growth trend. Per company policy, Astellas will prioritize business investment to support future growth but will raise the dividend level aligned with profit / cashflow plan and actual performance throughout CSP2021 period. The company will also flexibly execute share buybacks utilizing excess cash to increase capital efficiency and shareholder return.
(4) Contents of the Full CSP2021
For our full CSP2021, please visit: https://www.astellas.com/jp/en/investors/strategic-plan
Click below for a copy of the full press release
