Japan based Astellas Pharma Inc. has announced that the Third Fermentation Building (provisional name) will be constructed as a new manufacturing facility for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of Prograf^® (generic name: tacrolimus hydrate*) in the Toyama Technology Center of Astellas Pharma Tech Co., Ltd., a production subsidiary of Astellas.

Prograf^® is an immunosuppressant discovered and developed by Astellas and currently marketed in approximately 100 countries / areas. It has greatly contributed to medical transplantation globally as a first-line immunosuppressant for organ transplantation. Sales of Prograf^® was ¥195.7 billion in FY2018.

Astellas is currently manufacturing API of Prograf^® for Japan and overseas as well as formulating and packaging in the Toyama Technology Center. The purpose of the construction of the Third Fermentation Building is to enhance our production capacity that will enable a stable supply of high-quality products in the future, taking into account the expected steady demand for Prograf^® and the status of the existing manufacturing facility in the Toyama Technology Center. It will also have state-of-the-art facilities based on the efficiency of the existing facilities.

The total construction cost will be approximately ¥10.0 billion, and the facility will have three above-ground floors and a total floor area of approximately 7,220 m². The construction will be commenced in April 2020 and the completion is scheduled in August 2021.

This investment will have no impact on the financial results for the FY2019 ending March 31, 2020.