Astellas launches new regenerative medicine unit

Astellas has announced the launch of its new regenerative medicine business unit, which commenced operations yesterday (April 1st 2014).

The new division aims to promptly undertake innovative regenerative medicine studies and build an autonomous and highly agile research management structure, reporting directly to Astellas' senior vice-president and president of drug discovery research.

Its key priorities will be to establish and maintain technology platforms involving regenerative medicine and cell therapy, taking advantage of the multifunctional characteristics of cells to produce more effective treatment options than are currently available.

Astellas stated last year that it will be expanding its presence in the regenerative medicine field, with its new cell therapy focus coming in addition to the conventional pharmaceutical research it undertakes.

The company said: "Astellas has established a new organisation that will specialise in the research of the regenerative medicine and cell therapy to accelerate the advancement to the emerging medical field with cutting-edge technology platform."

This comes after the firm also established Astellas Innovation Management last year, a new division that will help the company to produce groundbreaking drugs with greater ease.