Astellas confirms plans to invest $257mn to develop R&D facilities in Japan and US

The Japan-based pharmaceutical company, Astellas Pharma, has announced it plans to invest $257mn to develop new R&D manufacturing facilities in three sites in Japan and the US, BioPharmaDive reports.

It has been revealed that Astellas will create two centres in Japan, Toyama and Tsukuba, with both anticipated to be completed in 2019, in addition to one in Massachusetts, which is expected to reach completion in January 2020.

The new facility in Tsukuba is thought to cost around $44mn and will have the capability to develop clinical trial materials that can be utilised for Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies of cell and gene therapies in Japan, the US and Europe.  

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In Toyama, Astellas are expected to invest almost $90mn to develop an 8,000 square-metre facility to create antibodies for both clinical and commercial uses.

However, the largest development is set to take place in the US with a new location of 24,000 square metres of its Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

The news follows Astellas recent movements in the last few years which has seen the company complete three deals to purchase assets in gene therapy, women’s health and mitochondrial research.