Astellas eyes oncology growth

Astellas Pharma Europe has set its sights on the oncology market, earmarking the therapy area as its latest “franchise focus” area.

The company says it already has leading and best in class products in transplantation, urology and dermatology, as well as innovative recent and forthcoming launches in anti-infectives and pain.

Now, on the fifth anniversary of its creation through the merger of Fujisawa and Yamanouchi, it wants to add a focus on oncology to the list.

A key part of this strategy is its recent acquisition of biotech company Agensys, which is developing a pipeline of therapeutic, fully human monoclonal antibodies to treat a range of solid tumour cancers. A number of these are currently in phase I and II trials.

Also now in Astellas’ pipeline is MDV3100, a novel, triple-acting oral androgen receptor antagonist licensed from Medivation that is currently in phase III trials for advanced prostate cancer.

Masao Yoshida, president and chief executive of Astellas Europe, said: “Our vision at Astellas is focused on changing tomorrow for patients. The last five years have been a remarkable success, adding innovative new medicines to our portfolio that tackle key areas of unmet medical need.”

Yoshida added: “We are committed to continuing to bring our vision to life and it is very exciting for the company to begin to focus on the area of oncology.”

Astellas Europe’s leading products in transplantation and urology include Prograf and Vesicare respectively. The company also plans to launch the anti-infective treatments Mycamine and Vibativ and pain drug Qutenza later this year. 

Yoshida continued: “We are very proud of the growth we have achieved since our company’s formation five years ago. Applying our core values of innovation and fulfilling unmet medical needs, we have developed and diversified our business from just two therapy areas on the market in 2005, to five franchise areas and a promising pipeline today.”

“Going forward, we are aiming to help patients living with cancer, as well as continue to address and overcome the challenges in the fields of transplantation, urology, dermatology, anti-infectives and pain management.”