United States newsroom

DEERFIELD, IL, June 4, 2009 – Astellas Pharma Global Development (“APGD”), a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc. based in Tokyo, Japan, announced today that Dr. Betsy Garofalo has been hired as the global therapy area leader for CNS. Garofalo is a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist bringing the team more than 17 years of drug development experience.

"Betsy’s charge as head of the global therapy area is to provide strategic direction and leadership for the development of all Astellas CNS compounds,” said Dr. Steven Ryder, president of APGD. “Betsy’s deep experience in CNS disorders and past successes make her an excellent choice to help us develop new medications for the many patients with unmet medical needs.”

In addition to her work at Astellas, Garofalo is an adjunct associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan. In 2007, Garofalo formed the Michigan Technology and Research Institute where she provided consulting services to the pharmaceutical industry. Before that, Garofalo held numerous positions of leadership at Parke-Davis and then Pfizer Research and Development. She received her medical training and completed a pediatric residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine followed by a fellowship in neurology/pediatric neurology and a fellowship in epilepsy at the University of Michigan.

About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Global Development, located in Deerfield, Illinois, is a group company of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. For more information about Astellas Pharma Inc., please visit the website at www.astellas.com/en/.