Astellas Pharma : , City of Yokohama, and Yokohama City University Developed Science-Based Exercise Programs through Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration

TOKYO - Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., 'Astellas') developed science-based exercise programs in cooperation with the City of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture (Kanagawa, Mayor: Fumiko Hayashi, 'City of Yokohama') and Yokohama City University (Kanagawa, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and CEO: Yoshiyuki Futami, 'YCU').

Exercise therapy is reported to be beneficial to patients with type 2 diabetes, and the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes 2019 issued by the Japan Diabetes Society indicates that 'exercise therapy consisting of aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, or combination of the two improves blood glucose control and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.' Therefore, there was a need for the development of scientific evidence to support the specific instruction of effective exercise therapies by way of detailed exercise programs and implementation methods for diabetes patients or how to implement them.

Astellas has been aiming to develop science-based exercise programs for exercise therapies for patients with type 2 diabetes by combining Astellas' strength cultivated through its ethical pharmaceutical business practices, and technology and knowledge from different fields through industry-government-academia collaboration with City of Yokohama and YCU. We have designed an exercise program combining aerobic exercise with resistance exercise (repetitive exercises that exert resistance on target muscles) and confirmed the clinical utility of this exercise program in improving blood glucose control in a medical and health research conducted in Japan (an exercise intervention study with a control group).

In the development of this exercise program, Astellas was responsible for designing the exercise program, in addition to planning and implementing the medical and health research. Yasuo Terauchi, Professor, Association of Medical Science Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yokohama City University participated in this program upon introduction by the Life Innovation Platform YOKOHAMA (LIP. Yokohama1 ) as a medical and health research expert essential to development.

Astellas plans to make these science-based exercise programs available through fitness clubs starting with limited areas in Japan in 2020. Astellas will continue to pursue the creation of societies where people can live mentally and physically healthy lives and be true to themselves, by creating and providing evidence-based healthcare solutions through the integration of medicine and exercise.

About LIP. Yokohama

Life Innovation Platform YOKOHAMA (LIP. Yokohama) is designed to help the City of Yokohama collaborate with the industry, academic, government, and financial institutions in order to provide continual support for innovation in the health & medical fields in Yokohama. Through this platform, a network of enterprises, universities, and research institutes develops innovative projects. At the same time, LIP. Yokohama supports the commercialization of small, medium-sized, and venture enterprises and promotes the development of new technologies and products. LIP. Yokohama is available through its website at https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/business/keizai/lifescience/lip/lifepf.html

About Yokohama City University

Located in the international city of Yokohama, Yokohama City University has 5 campuses, 5 faculties, 6 graduate schools, 2 affiliated research centers, and 2 affiliated hospitals that serve as the bases for education, research, and medical care. Yokohama City University is available through its website at https://www.yokohama-cu.ac.jp/en/

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. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en

Cautionary Notes (Astellas)

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.

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Yokohama City University

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City of Yokohama

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