Press Release

STAINES, England, November 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Europe, the European subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc, one of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical companies, can today announce details of an Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity Award for the International Foundation for Dermatology. The charity award is a funding programme designed to award organisations that help citizens, of all communities, realise their full potential and enhance their quality of life - both today and in the future.

The Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity Awards complement thecompany's existing ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.These embody a global and European commitment to supporting medical researchand education and uphold the company's strong ethical principles. Among themain CSR-initiatives is the Astellas Pharma Europe Foundation, a registeredcharity with a long-term goal of providing support for programmes andactivities that contribute to the advancement of an increasingly healthysociety. Recent beneficiaries of the Foundation include Save the ChildrenLiberia, which has been able to vaccinate 35,000 children against measles anda total of 45,000 children against other childhood diseases.

Mr Masao Yoshida, President and CEO of Astellas Pharma EuropeLtd, commented:

"The International Foundation for Dermatology supports manyimportant projects in the developing world. We are pleased, via the AstellasChanging Tomorrow Charity Awards, to help this worthwhile Foundation make adifference to improve dermatology training in countries of need."

The International Foundation of Dermatology (IFD), one of thefour recipients of the Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity Awards, was createdin 1987 as an arm of the International Committee of Dermatology of theInternational League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS). The IFD is anon-profit organisation whose principal mission is to improve dermatologicalcare in underserved areas of the developing world. It is responsible fortraining primary care leads and dermatologists in subsaharan Africa from theRegional Dermatology Training Centre in Tanzania and has developed programmesin other countries such as Mali and Mexico The IFD is an integral arm of theInternational League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) representing morethan 25,000 members from over 60 nations.

Professor Roderick J Hay, Chairman of The InternationalFoundation of Dermatology, commented:

"The IFD is delighted to have received this award and theassociated funding. This contribution will specifically help us to supportpatients suffering from skin diseases in developing countries and at the sametime provide dermatology training to local primary care workers."

Astellas Pharma Europe employs approximately 3,400 people inCentral and Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa. Dedicatedto improving people's lives around the world through the introduction ofinnovative and reliable pharmaceutical products, it has key strengths in thetherapy areas of Transplantation, Urology, Dermatology and Anti-infectives.

Notes to Editors

About Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd.

Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., located in the UK, is a European subsidiaryof Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical companydedicated to improving the health of people around the world through theprovision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. Theorganisation is committed to becoming a global company by combiningoutstanding R&D and marketing capabilities and continuing to grow in theworld pharmaceutical market. Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. is responsible for20 affiliate offices located across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, anR&D site and three manufacturing plants with approximately 3,400 staff.

http://www.astellas.eu