In recent years, dramatic changes to the environment and economy have led to a growing expectation from stakeholders for the sustainability of society. We believe that companies are expected to contribute to society proactively and positively through business activities.
In the healthcare field, societal expectations are shifting to therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs, and innovative healthcare solutions based on the next generation modalities and digital technology are eagerly anticipated.

Under our VISION of being “On the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients,” Astellas creates innovative new drugs and healthcare solutions that drive the improvement of patient access to healthcare and better outcomes.
Astellas will gain trust from our stakeholders by our effort to address societal issues through our business. It will, then, improve sustainability of Astellas’ own business and create a good cycle of further contribution to sustainability of the society. That will lead to realizing Astellas’ mission “Sustainable enhancement of enterprise value.”

Additionally, aligned with society’s high demand, we strive to fulfill social responsibility through our efforts to address climate change and other environmental problems.
Astellas has embedded the strategic goal to "deepen our engagement in sustainability" in our Corporate Strategic Plan 2021, and we manage the business with awareness to sustainability. Through our Materiality Matrix, which guides our sustainability efforts, we have identified 19 key issues from the perspective of significance for society and Astellas. 
For each of 9 high-priority materiality issues, we have formulated an action plan, and the entire company is working together to proactively address these issues.
Our efforts in sustainability will lead to increased enterprise value in two ways.

Astellas’ Sustainability Story

1. Transforming to be a cutting-edge, VALUE-driven life science innovator

There are patients and their families suffering from diseases with no or limited treatment options that cannot provide satisfactory outcome in society. Astellas is pursuing transformative healthcare solutions that do not simply alleviate the symptoms of diseases. Instead, we are developing innovative therapeutics, such as cell and gene therapies, which are disease-modifying and directly address the underlying cause of the disease. Symptomatic treatment not only places a burden on the patient through commuting to the hospital and inpatient stays, but also increases the burden on their families who nurse and care for them as the social and economic losses are not small. By actively creating innovative treatment measures, Astellas aims to free patients and their families from years of treatment and care, while significantly improving symptoms with only a few treatment cycles. As a result, patients can return to their normal lives sooner, thereby reducing the overall load on the local healthcare system far and wide from the constant need for medical treatment.
We believe that one of the most important driving forces to create and deliver great VALUE to society is an organizational culture that realizes innovation. Astellas will continue our endeavor to cultivate an organizational culture and achieve sustainable value creation through acquiring and developing talent in order to provide the access to healthcare solutions we have created to as many patients as possible. In addition, in order to sustainably create innovative therapeutic approaches and other innovations, it is necessary to set appropriate prices for innovations. Astellas will also cultivate an environment and scheme to ensure that prices fairly reflect the value impact on society, including patients, their families, and the healthcare professionals who support patients' health.

2. Strengthening resilient and sustainable business operations to meet the expectations of society

Astellas manufactures products of excellence in quality at the global standard and continue to deliver safe products to patients. It is our mission to ensure the stable delivery of our products to patients under any circumstances. While ensuring the protection of human rights and safety of all those engaged in procurement, manufacturing, and distribution, ensuring resilient supply chain management in the change of external environment throughout the supply chain. In addition, we will continue to provide information to facilitate the safe and appropriate use of our products by patients. We will foster trust from society by always thinking of patients and their families who are suffering from diseases, considering what healthcare solutions are best for them and what Astellas' products can contribute to them, and continuing our activities in an ethical manner. We act with compliance and high ethical business practices in all aspects of our business as well as the provision of product information. In addition, we contribute to the societal sustainability with evolving our governance to ensure fair management decisions and operations.

In closing,

Astellas believes that we play an important role in supporting a bright future for society by contributing to the achievement of various UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), with a primary focus on SDG Goal 3 (ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages).
We will continue our efforts to realize the sustainability of society through our business activities in collaboration and dialogue with all of our stakeholders including patients and their families, healthcare professionals, business partners, investors and shareholders, and employees.

Realizing a Sustainable Society

Improving sustainability requires effort, and Astellas recognizes the importance of such an undertaking. We promote each of our social and environmental initiatives and are strengthening our governance. We believe building the trust of stakeholders through maximizing positive societal impact will, in turn, make Astellas sustainable.

Environmental initiatives

Astellas understands that taking appropriate action to environmental issues such as climate change, pollution and waste disposal is essential to grow sustainably. As a company that contributes to the health of people around the world, we remain committed to addressing these issues through a long-term lens and from a global standpoint. Regarding climate change measures, we aim to further fulfill our responsibilities to the environment such as by reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, including indirect via the value chain, promoting the use of renewable energy, reducing GHG emissions associated with the usage of sales vehicles, and disclosing information based on the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Click here to learn more about Astellas’ environmental initiatives

Societal initiatives

At Astellas, we contribute to the health of patients by creating innovative healthcare solutions to address diseases with unmet medical needs. We will continue our endeavor to cultivate an organizational culture and achieve sustainable value creation through acquiring and developing talent in order to provide the access to healthcare solutions we have created to as many patients as possible. When we promote our business activities, we are embracing a culture of respect of all people engaged in procurement, manufacturing and distribution—and we are committed to improving product quality and safety based on a set of high ethical standards. Alongside our business activities, we contribute to more sustainable local communities through employee volunteerism activities that help address local health challenges. 

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Astellas’ Corporate Governance

Our raison d'être is to contribute to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. Astellas aims to sustainably enhance enterprise value by being chosen and trusted by all stakeholders.
With this business philosophy, we work to ensure and strengthen the effectiveness of corporate governance from two perspectives: ensuring transparency, appropriateness, and agility of management, and fulfilling our fiduciary duties and accountability to shareholders with appropriate collaboration across all stakeholders.

Click here to learn more about Astellas’ Governance