Astellas Invests $13 Million into Innovation Facilities for Cell and Gene Therapy

Astellas Pharma, a pharmaceutical products company based in Tokyo, Japan, announced it will invest $13 million into two innovation incubators from LabCentral, a laboratory facility for biotech start-ups in Cambridge, MA, making Astellas one of the five pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies to sponsor the new incubators. 

The incubators will consist of lab space for companies to conduct development studies and a non-GMP pilot plant, according to an Oct. 1, 2019 press release. Supporting the incubators will give the company access to healthcare solutions start-ups and entrepreneurial founders looking to expand cell and gene therapy.

Astellas will also invest around $450,000 over a course of three years to become a Gold Sponsor of LabCentral’s Massachusetts-based incubator. 

“Accelerating early-stage scientific innovation in areas such as cell and gene therapy is a strategic focus for Astellas, and is superbly aligned with the mission of LabCentral to serve as a launching-pad for cutting-edge biotech and life sciences start-ups,” said Kenji Yasukawa, PhD, president and CEO, Astellas, in the press release

The incubators are set to be operational starting in 2021.

Source: Astellas