Astellas Pharma has reached an agreement with the US government aimed at supporting patient access and affordability while reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation and the US healthcare system.

Under the agreement, Astellas will lower the prices of its medicines in the US Medicaid programme. The company will also establish pricing for future medicines in alignment with other developed nations, taking into account international market conditions, innovation and patient value.

As part of the agreement, Astellas will also contribute to strengthening the resilience of the US pharmaceutical supply chain. The company will donate 25 kg of tacrolimus Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) to the US Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve (SAPIR). Tacrolimus is an important medicine used to prevent rejection following solid-organ transplantation.

Astellas said the agreement reflects its longstanding focus on improving patient access while continuing to invest in research and development of innovative medicines. The company emphasised that affordability and innovation should advance together to address serious unmet medical needs.

Additional terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Astellas maintains a significant research, manufacturing and economic presence in the US, with operations supporting patients, employees and communities across the country. Over the past decade, the company has opened two manufacturing facilities in the US, including a cell therapy manufacturing facility in Westborough, Massachusetts, and a gene therapy manufacturing facility in Sanford, North Carolina.

In 2024, Astellas also established two research centres: the West Coast Innovation Center in South San Francisco and the Astellas Life Sciences Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The company develops medicines across areas including oncology, ophthalmology, urology and immunology, with a focus on diseases associated with significant unmet medical needs. Through its research and development programmes, Astellas continues to pursue innovative healthcare solutions while expanding its presence in competitive global pharmaceutical markets.