Astellas Pharma Europe Announces CliniClowns a Winner of the Changing Tomorrow 2009 Awards

STAINES, England, December 22 - Astellas Pharma Europe, the European subsidiary of Tokyo-based
Astellas Pharma Inc, one of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical companies, can
today announce the presentation of an Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity
Award donation to CliniClowns. This is a funding programme designed to award
organisations that help citizens, of all communities realise their full
potential and enhance their quality of life - both today and in the future.

The Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity Awards complement the
company's existing ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.
These embody a global and European commitment to supporting medical research
and education and uphold the company's strong ethical principles. Among the
main CSR-initiatives is the Astellas Pharma Europe Foundation, a registered
charity with a long-term goal of providing support for programmes and
activities that contribute to the advancement of an increasingly healthy
society. Recent beneficiaries of the Foundation include Save the Children
Liberia, which has been able to vaccinate 35,000 children against measles and
a total of 45,000 children against other childhood diseases.

Mr Masao Yoshida, President and CEO of Astellas Pharma Europe
Ltd, commented:

"The Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity Awards are designed to
help create a brighter future. CliniClowns make a real difference to bring
light and fun to children, who due to their illness or disability can really
benefit from this delivery of positivity, to supplement their excellent
medical care."

CliniClowns Netherlands, one of the four recipients of the
Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity Awards, is an unique foundation providing
fun and diversion to as many children as possible who are suffering from
illness, trauma or disability involving visits from specially trained clowns,
CliniClowns. There are currently around 70 CliniClowns working in more than
100 hospitals and other care institutions throughout the Netherlands.

A spokesperson, from CliniClowns, commented:

"With this funding CliniClowns can visit sick children in the hospitals
and support chronically sick children cared for in the home. Some of the
activities this funding supports include a travelling theatre-show - a
specially created production to help children with mental and physical
disabilities, and the Treasure Trunk - large cabin trunks packed with fun
games.

The distraction and happiness the CliniClowns bring to the children makes
it all worthwhile. The trained clowns let the children take charge of a
situation and let them simply be a child again. For once nothing is required
of them and anything can happen. This way the CliniClowns create a positive
effect that often resonates with the rest of the family. We are delighted to
have received this Astellas award and the associated funding."

Astellas Pharma Europe employs approximately 3,400 people in
Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa. Dedicated
to improving people's lives around the world through the introduction of
innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products, it has key strengths in the
therapy areas of Transplantation, Urology, Dermatology and Anti-infectives.

Notes to Editors

About Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd.

Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., located in the UK, is a European subsidiary
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
organisation is committed to becoming a global company by combining
outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities and continuing to grow in the
world pharmaceutical market. Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. is responsible for
20 affiliate offices located across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, an
R&D site and three manufacturing plants with approximately 3,400 staff.

www.astellas.eu

For more information please contact: Corporate Communications, Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., +44(0)1784-419-480, Astellas.European.Communications at eu.astellas.com