Astellas Upgrades China Strategy with New Organizational Structure and Expands Oncology Pipeline

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Enterprise NewsIn recent years, as China's pharmaceutical reform has entered a deeper stage and its generic drug market has started to transform towards innovation, multinational pharmaceutical companies, in order to maintain their competitive edge in the Chinese market, have begun closely following China’s pharmaceutical policies and promptly adjusting their organizational structures and business models. Recent reports indicate that Astellas Pharma, Inc. has established and officially opened its Greater China headquarters in Beijing. Following this strategic upgrade, a new structure comprising one headquarters and two centers will be formed.
 

Among them, Astellas Investment Beijing, as the regional headquarters for Greater China, will mainly be responsible for overall planning, strategic decision-making, resource coordination, and other aspects. Meanwhile, Astellas Pharma Beijing will serve as the marketing center for the company’s oncology and specialty treatment products in China, further focusing on local production and manufacturing in China. The formation of this new structure will further drive Astellas' development in the Chinese market.
 

Data shows that Astellas is a large multinational pharmaceutical enterprise with businesses in more than 70 countries and regions worldwide. China is regarded as a crucial part of its global growth strategy. Astellas entered China in 1994, bringing innovative drugs and related services in areas such as oncology, transplant immunology, urology, and infectious diseases.
 

Q1 Report Shows Astellas' Performance in Greater China Reached 16.4 Billion Yen (Approximately 150 Million USD), a Year-on-Year Increase of 15.5%, Outpacing Other Sales Regions. Following the Inclusion of Its Product Enzalutamide in the New Medical Insurance Catalog at the End of 2020 (Implemented Starting March 1, 2021), Revenue in Greater China Reached 1.9 Billion Yen (Approximately 17 Million USD), Reflecting a Growth of 165.1%.
 

With the aging population and the advancement of the Healthy China strategy, the development space for China's pharmaceuticals and healthcare market is enormous. However, at the same time, the market is also rapidly evolving, which requires major companies to continuously improve operational efficiency to maintain industry competitiveness. In order to better align with the needs of the Chinese market, in April 2019, Astellas established the Greater China region and carried out relevant upgrades to reporting lines and adjustments to layout planning. This strategic upgrade represents a continuation and deepening of the company’s previous development strategy. Going forward, the company will continue to focus its strategic priorities on breakthroughs in the fields of oncology, innovative drugs, and therapies.
 

It is reported that since this year, the company has been reaping fruitful results. For instance, in February 2021, Gilteritinib (brand name: Xospata) was approved in China, mainly for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia carrying FLT3 mutations. This drug represents another achievement from Astellas' commitment to developing innovative breakthrough solutions for refractory cancers with limited treatment options, bringing good news to patients in China.
 

Additionally, another targeted antibody drug in Astellas' new product pipeline — Zolbetuximab — aims to address gastric cancer, which has a high incidence and mortality rate in China, by targeting a potential new target. The product has already participated in global multicenter clinical trials in China and achieved synchronized global development.
 

Besides focusing on innovative oncology drugs, its product PADCEV was approved by the FDA in the United States in July 2021 for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are ineligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and have previously received one or more lines of systemic therapy. In order to benefit Chinese patients as soon as possible, the company is actively exploring feasible solutions to accelerate access for Chinese patients, which is expected to provide more Chinese patients with innovative and effective treatment options in the near future.