Health and Business
A Q&A with a Leading Deerfield-Based Pharmaceutical Company: Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
Q. What is the mission of Astellas Pharma US, Inc.?
A. Astellas Pharma US, Inc., a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to “Changing tomorrow” by improving the health of people around the world through innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. Astellas has an intense focus on five key therapeutic areas–Immunology, Urology, Cardiology, Dermatology and Infectious Disease–and are considered leaders in these fields. At all levels throughout the company our people are committed to the opportunity to positively affect and improve patient lives while remaining socially responsible to our community and those with whom we work and collaborate.
Q. When did Astellas Pharma US, Inc. come to the Deerfield community and why was this community chosen as an ideal place to establish the business?
A. Astellas Pharma US, Inc. was established in 2005 following the merger of two long-established Japanese pharmaceutical companies: Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Prior to the merger, Fujisawa’s North American headquarters was located in Deerfield for 15 years.
Q. How has your relationship with the DBR Chamber benefited the business?
A. Astellas’ long relationship with the DBR Chamber has provided the company with visibility in the community along with numerous opportunities to actively engage in community events and programs.
Q. Are there any new and exciting happenings at Astellas Pharma US, Inc. in Deerfield?
A. Astellas is a growing company with aggressive goals in the U.S. pharmaceutical market that we strive for everyday. We are committed to creating a high performance culture that positions us as an employer of choice in the Chicago area, as well as a highly competitive, successful company.
Q. Has the company been the recipient of any accolades or awards recently?
A. Solidifying Astellas as an employer of choice and strengthening the Astellas brand are important to reach our company goals. That’s why Astellas was very pleased to be recognized with an “honorable mention” in the Crain's Chicago Business’ 2009 Best Places to Work in Chicago competition, which rated the Chicago area's top employers based on employer applications and surveys. Astellas was the only pharmaceutical company that made the Crain's list. The new Astellas corporate branding campaign has also won a national Davey Award for excellence. The prestigious Davey Awards are given in recognition of solid strategic thinking and outstanding creative execution across a range of media, including print, TV, film and the Internet.
Q. What makes Astellas Pharma US, Inc. a unique business in the Deerfield area, and in comparison to other pharmaceutical companies in the region?
A. In the U.S., Astellas is intensely focused on five key therapeutic areas–Immunology, Urology, Cardiology, Dermatology and Infectious Disease–which helps our company as a whole compete globally and be respected for our knowledge and innovation in established franchises. To further our commitment to these franchises, Astellas Pharma Global Development (APGD), a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc., was established in April 2008 and is located in Deerfield. This new subsidiary oversees global product development, with the goal of accelerating the time it takes to bring high-value Astellas pharmaceuticals to market. APGD manages product development in Japan, Europe and the United States.
Q. How is the company active in the community?
A. Astellas’ commitment to changing tomorrow is measured not only by our focus on bringing innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians, but also by the importance we place on the impact we can make within the communities where we work and live. Astellas provides contributions and countless volunteer hours to various organizations in our local community.
During the company’s past two annual holiday celebrations, our employees have assembled and donated more than 4,000 toys and craft kits to needy children at the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County and the local Project Sunshine chapter. Astellas employees are given up to five days paid time off to provide volunteer support to charitable organizations of their choice. The company also matches, dollar for dollar, employee contributions made to the following specified organizations: American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and Starlight Children’s Foundation.
As a scientific-based company, we know that without knowledgeable and dedicated science teachers who inspire their students, many of our industry’s medical advances wouldn’t be possible. That’s why Astellas Pharma US, Inc. is proud to partner with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) to promote the importance of science education. To help make this a reality, the company has become an industry sponsor of the NSTA’s New Science Teacher Academy, providing annual scholarships to 15 local Chicagoland science teachers.
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