TOKYO, April 18, 2018
/PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and
CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, "Astellas" )
and Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD, President and CEO:
John Milligan, "Kite"), today
announced that an agreement has been completed for the transfer of
certain Agensys research facilities in Santa Monica, California, USA, to Kite. The
asset transfer was completed on April 12,
2018. Additional financial information or further deal terms
are not being disclosed.
The facilities transfer is part of the wind-down process of the
Agensys research operations, as announced by Astellas on
July 27, 2017. Additional wind-down
activities were completed in the first quarter of calendar year
2018, following the Company's decision to further refine its
oncology strategy by expanding its investment in the
research of new technologies and modalities and reducing its
focus on Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) research, which was the core
focus of work conducted at Agensys. Astellas will continue certain
clinical trials and collaborations on some ADC programs that have
been in progress at Agensys, including its collaboration with
Seattle Genetics, Inc.
About Astellas
Astellas Pharma Inc., based in
Tokyo, Japan, is a company
dedicated to improving the health of people around the world
through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical
products. We focus on Urology, Oncology, Immunology, Nephrology and
Neuroscience as prioritized therapeutic areas while advancing new
therapeutic areas and discovery research leveraging new
technologies/modalities. We are also creating new value by
combining internal capabilities and external expertise in the
medical/healthcare business. Astellas is on the forefront of
healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for
patients. For more information, please visit our website at
https://www.astellas.com/en.
About Gilead Sciences
Kite, a Gilead Company, is a
biopharmaceutical company based in Santa
Monica, California. Kite is engaged in the development of
innovative cancer immunotherapies. The company is focused on
chimeric antigen receptor and T cell receptor engineered cell
therapies.
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that
discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in
areas of unmet medical need. The company's mission is to advance
the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases.
Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with
headquarters in Foster City, California.
Astellas Cautionary Notes
In this press release, statements made with respect to current
plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that
are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the
future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on
management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the
information currently available to it and involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not
limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws
and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency
exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches,
(iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products
effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to
effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in
highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas'
intellectual property rights by third parties.
Information about pharmaceutical products (including products
currently in development) which is included in this press release
is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical
advice.
Gilead Forward-Looking Statements
This press release
includes forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject
to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the
possibility that the closing conditions may not be satisfied and
the transaction may not be completed. All statements other than
statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed
forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
and involve risks and uncertainties and are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results
may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a
number of risks and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties that
could cause the actual results to differ from expectations
contemplated by forward-looking statements include risks and
uncertainties detailed from time to time in Gilead Sciences,
Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information
currently available to Gilead and Kite, and Gilead and Kite assume
no obligation and disclaim any intent to update any such
forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc.