TOKYO, January 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. announced today that its European subsidiary Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd.("Astellas Pharma Europe", headquarters: Stains, U.K.)" acquired the license for commercialization of the treatment for advanced prostate cancer Eligard(R) from TOLMAR Inc. ("TOLMAR", headquarters: Colorado, U.S.A.) on December 22, 2010 in a selection of Asian, Middle Eastern, North African and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.

Eligard is a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist which Astellas Pharma Europe in-licensed from TOLMAR and Astellas Pharma Europe registered and launched Eligard successfully in the vast majority of European countries. Under the terms of the new agreement, the commercialization of Eligard will be expanded to the Middle East, North Africa, CIS, Central Asia and Asian markets such as China, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Astellas puts a high strategic focus on the therapeutic area of urology, by commercializing a treatment for overactive bladder, Vesicare(R), and a treatment for functional symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, Omnic(R), Omnic Ocas(R) (sold under the names Harnal(R) in Japan) This new agreement could reinforce the presence of the therapeutic area, as well as a bridgehead for the entry into the therapeutic area of oncology, Astellas' third prioritized area alongside urology and transplant in emerging markets including Asia.