Japanese major’s profit figures for fiscal year just ended will be hit by multiple accounting decisions related to sales, pipeline and partnerships.

Astellas’ Mike Luther sees 2023 as a year of growing assets and creating partnerships. The global head of search and evaluation business development told In Vivo about the company's focus on gene and cell therapy and what he thinks makes for a successful business deal.

Eisai has decided to shut down its US oncology research operation H3 by September in the course of restructuring its global R&D organization. The majority of H3 employees will be laid off as Eisai Inc. and new organization DHBL absorb its functions and assets. Meanwhile another Japanese pharma firm, Astellas, builds up its US R&D footprint.

Astellas Pharma US accounts for roughly one-third of the parent company’s annual revenues with a growing focus on immuno-oncology. The unit’s president discusses lessons from the pandemic, racial disparities in health care and business development.