Astellas Reports Q3 FY2020 Results: Global Sales Down 5.4%, China Up 0.5%

Astellas Pharma Inc. (TYO: 4503) recently announced its financial results for the six months ended September 30, 2020. The company’s global sales amounted to JPY 615.5 billion (USD 5.88 billion), representing a year-on-year decline of 5.4%. Key contributing factors included the expiration of patents for Vesicare (solifenacin), a medication for overactive bladder (OAB), and the anti-inflammatory analgesic celecoxib in the European and Japanese markets, respectively, as well as the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic during the period.

The primary growth drivers for Astellas’ performance included Xtandi (enzalutamide), a prostate cancer drug, which saw a year-on-year increase of 15.6%; gilteritinib, a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with revenue growing by 91.9%; and Padcev (enfortumab vedotin), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for bladder cancer treatment, co-commercialized in the United States by Astellas and Seagen.

By region, only the U.S. and Chinese markets recorded growth during the reporting period (with sales increasing by 9.2% and 0.5%, respectively); revenues in Japan, mature markets, and international markets declined. Notably, revenue from the Chinese market reached JPY 29.6 billion (USD 280.7 million).

Gilteritinib was submitted for marketing approval in China in February 2020 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The supplemental new drug application for Anktiva (Apalutamide) for castration-resistant prostate cancer was also submitted in October 2019. According to the GBI SOURCE pharmaceutical database, both products are expected to be approved for marketing in China soon. In addition, a bridging study application under an Investigational New Drug (IND) regimen has been submitted in China for Padcev for the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma; if successful, this will support the New Drug Application (NDA) for the drug.

According to the GBI SOURCE drug database, in 2020, Astellas' tacrolimus was approved in China, with a total of six application acceptance numbers approved, covering three different dosage forms: extended-release capsules, capsules, and injections. For detailed product information, please log in to the GBI SOURCE drug database for further viewing.

Appendix: Astellas’ Sales Revenue in Fiscal Year 2019 (in million USD)