Solving Problems Related to Access to Health:  Improving Healthcare Infrastructure and Services  and Societal Benefit-driven Product Development Development of Pediatric Formulation for  Schistosomiasis Joint Drug Discovery Research on Neglected  Tropical Diseases* Astellas’ raison d’être is to “contribute toward improving the  health of people around the world through the provision of  innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products.” To fulfill this  business philosophy, we are conducting a wide range of  activities that harness our strengths and take advantage of  partnerships with other organizations. We do this in two  ways: through our business activities, in which we discover  innovative new drugs in therapeutic areas with high unmet  medical needs; and by implementing a variety of activities  that aim to solve healthcare issues in regions where access  to health, including drug treatment, is inadequate. We believe  that these initiatives will generate synergies with our business  activities from a long-term perspective. For example, they will  help us to build relationships with the governments of coun- tries facing public health issues and our local partners  through collaboration. Astellas is exploring effective treatments for diseases caused  by parasitic protozoa and dengue fever, which are endemic to  the tropical regions of Africa, Central and South America, and  South Asia. To tackle this challenge, we are leveraging cutting- edge technology and knowledge, and working closely with the  University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagasaki  University, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization,  National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and the non-profit organization Drugs for  Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). Now that about one year  has passed since the start of this research, we have prioritized  and narrowed down target proteins. Progress is also being  made on research aimed at establishing a proper evaluation  system for dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. Together with Tokyo Institute of Technology, and the  University of Tokyo, Astellas has developed an integrated drug  discovery database for NTDs called iNTRODB (Integrated  Neglected TROpical disease DataBase). In recognition of the  development of iNTRODB, we received the Minister of  Health, Labour and Welfare Award of the 11th annual Merit  Awards for Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration  granted by the Cabinet Office of Japan. With researchers  from around the world able to access this database,  iNTRODB is contributing to global research on NTDs. * Neglected tropical diseases refer mainly to infectious diseases caused by  parasites and bacteria, which are endemic mainly among poor populations  in the tropical regions of developing countries. It is said that today more  than one billion people worldwide suffer from these diseases. Researchers from research institutes and the members of Drug Discovery  Research at Astellas engaged in drug discovery research on NTDs. Review of Operations In collaboration with other pharmaceutical companies,  academia, and international non-profit organizations, Astellas  is working to develop a pediatric formulation of praziquantel  tablets for the treatment of schistosomiasis, which has the  second highest incidence rate for a tropical disease in Africa  after malaria. The pediatric formulation newly developed by  Astellas was reduced to one-fourth of the current size to  make it easier to swallow. The tablet is designed to disinte- grate in the mouth so that it can be taken even without  water. The importance of this initiative has earned interna- tional recognition and has obtained research grants from  the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the GHIT Fund.  Clinical trials of the pediatric formulation in patients are  scheduled to begin in fiscal 2014 and Astellas plans to con- tinue providing its expertise and technology in the area of  pediatric clinical development. * GHIT Fund: Global Health Innovative Technology Fund. The GHIT Fund is  Japan’s first public-private partnership, established by the Japanese  government, a consortium of pharmaceutical companies, and the Bill &  Melinda Gates Foundation. The objective of the GHIT Fund is to promote  the development of medicines to fight infectious diseases that are still  endemic among impoverished countries. Newly developed pediatric formulation of praziquantel  tablet (top) and existing tablet for adults (bottom) Annual Report 2014 _  Astellas Pharma Inc.  63