Singapore: Astellas Pharma is constructing a new building at the Takahagi Technology Center in Japan. The building, which is slated to complete in 2013, will enhance Astellas' capacity to manufacture and ensure a stable supply of investigational drug substance used in high pharmaceutical activities, in which demand is predicted to increase in association with Astellas' enrichment of its development pipeline focused on oncology.

Astellas is pursuing a global category leader business model which is capable of supplying high valued-added drugs, backed by a high level of expertise, to select therapeutic areas with a high degree of unmet medical needs. The new building will have seven stories above ground and a total floor
area of approximately 4,170 sqaure meters. It will meet the current global good manufacturing practice (GMP) for clinical trial material and is equipped with flexible facilities capable of supporting a multiple line-up of manufacturing items and changes in volumes of the demand of investigational drug substance.

Further, as high potency compounds are to be manufactured there, the facility will be constructed with careful consideration of occupational health and safety and environmental preservation by introducing equipment with containment performance and an earthquake-absorbing structure. Total construction cost of the facility is approximately $53.4 million (¥ 4.2 billion).

Takahagi Technology Center is taking a lead function in drug substance through its chemical technology and innovative equipment/facilities in the Astellas Group by manufacturing drug substance for ethical pharmaceutical products and for clinical trial material.