content_image/180029.jpg content_image/180034.jpg
## Solving Problems Related to Access to Health: Improving Healthcare Infrastructure and Services and Societal Benefit-driven Product Development 

Astellas’ raison d’être is to “contribute toward improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products.” To fulfill this business philosophy, we are conducting a wide range of activities that harness our strengths and take advantage of partnerships with other organizations. We do this in two ways: through our business activities, in which we discover innovative new drugs in therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs; and by implementing a variety of activities that aim to solve healthcare issues in regions where access to health, including drug treatment, is inadequate. We believe that these initiatives will generate synergies with our business activities from a long-term perspective. For example, they will help us to build relationships with the governments of coun- tries facing public health issues and our local partners through collaboration. 

## Joint Drug Discovery Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases* 

Astellas is exploring effective treatments for diseases caused by parasitic protozoa and dengue fever, which are endemic to the tropical regions of Africa, Central and South America, and South Asia. To tackle this challenge, we are leveraging cutting- edge technology and knowledge, and working closely with the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagasaki University, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and the non-profit organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). Now that about one year has passed since the start of this research, we have prioritized and narrowed down target proteins. Progress is also being made on research aimed at establishing a proper evaluation system for dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. 

Together with Tokyo Institute of Technology, and the University of Tokyo, Astellas has developed an integrated drug discovery database for NTDs called iNTRODB (Integrated Neglected TROpical disease DataBase). In recognition of the development of iNTRODB, we received the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award of the 11th annual Merit Awards for Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration granted by the Cabinet Office of Japan. With researchers from around the world able to access this database, iNTRODB is contributing to global research on NTDs. 

* Neglected tropical diseases refer mainly to infectious diseases caused by parasites and bacteria, which are endemic mainly among poor populations in the tropical regions of developing countries. It is said that today more than one billion people worldwide suffer from these diseases. 

<img src='content_image/180029.jpg'>

## Development of Pediatric Formulation for Schistosomiasis 

In collaboration with other pharmaceutical companies, academia, and international non-profit organizations, Astellas is working to develop a pediatric formulation of praziquantel tablets for the treatment of schistosomiasis, which has the second highest incidence rate for a tropical disease in Africa after malaria. The pediatric formulation newly developed by Astellas was reduced to one-fourth of the current size to make it easier to swallow. The tablet is designed to disinte- grate in the mouth so that it can be taken even without water. The importance of this initiative has earned interna- tional recognition and has obtained research grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the GHIT Fund. Clinical trials of the pediatric formulation in patients are scheduled to begin in fiscal 2014 and Astellas plans to con- tinue providing its expertise and technology in the area of pediatric clinical development. 

* GHIT Fund: Global Health Innovative Technology Fund. The GHIT Fund is Japan’s first public-private partnership, established by the Japanese government, a consortium of pharmaceutical companies, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The objective of the GHIT Fund is to promote the development of medicines to fight infectious diseases that are still endemic among impoverished countries. 

<img src='content_image/180034.jpg'>

