The creation of Astellas Venture Management is a direct result of the Astellas Group's successful experience in evaluating innovative biotech projects and working with emerging companies to develop projects to fruition.

Before the merger to become Astellas, Yamanouchi and Fujisawa were successfully operating respective venture investment business in U.S. Yamanouchi Venture Capital, founded in 2000, and Fujisawa Investments for Entrepreneurship (FITE), founded in 1999, were frontrunners in venture investment business established by Japanese pharmaceutical companies and their activities have been well regarded by venture capital community and venture entrepreneurs. After the merger, Yamanouchi Venture Capital became Astellas Venture Capital, then Astellas Venture Management was created in 2005 to consolidate all existing venture investment business originated from Yamanouchi and Fujisawa, and we continue to invest and support the growth of promising emerging biotechnology companies.

Our philosophy and process is very simple: we believe that by working together as colleagues and partners with emerging companies, and by making available the Astellas Group's experience, guidance and support where appropriate, these companies can more quickly and productively achieve success.