– Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Naoki Okamura, “Astellas”) and YASKAWA Electric Corporation (TSE: 6506, President and CEO; Masahiro Ogawa, “YASKAWA”) signed a definitive agreement to establish a joint venture for the development of a cell therapy product manufacturing platform utilizing the dual-arm robot 'Maholo.' In addition, the joint venture will offer platform access to startups and academic institutions, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of cell therapy..

安斯泰来制药公司（东京证券交易所代码：4503，总裁兼首席执行官：冈村直树，“安斯泰来”）和安川电机公司（东京证券交易所代码：6506，总裁兼首席执行官：小川昌弘，“安川电机”）签署了一项最终协议，成立一家合资企业，以开发利用双臂机器人“Maholo”的细胞治疗产品制造平台。此外，该合资企业还将向初创企业和学术机构提供平台访问权限，促进细胞治疗领域的合作与创新。

In the pharmaceutical industry, the commercialization of cell therapy faces many challenges stemming from the complex nature of the manufacturing process, in particular, related to the accuracy and reproducibility of cell manufacturing. Furthermore, the need for a skilled workforce, coupled with the time and cost investments required for technology transfer to manufacturing facilities, presents additional hurdles.

在制药行业，细胞治疗的商业化面临许多挑战，这些挑战源于生产工艺的复杂性，特别是与细胞生产相关的准确性和可重复性。此外，对熟练劳动力的需求，以及技术转移到生产设施所需的时间和成本投入，也带来了额外的障碍。

the memorandum of agreement signed in May, 2024

2024年5月签署的协议备忘录

, Astellas and YASKAWA have been advancing discussions toward establishing a joint venture to leverage their mutual strengths and accelerate efforts to address these challenges.

，安斯泰来和安川电机一直在就建立一家合资公司进行深入讨论，以利用双方的各自优势并加快应对这些挑战的努力。

The planned joint venture will leverage Astellas' expertise in R&D and manufacturing for cell therapy and the dual arm robot 'Maholo,' developed by YASKAWA's subsidiary, Robotic Biology Institute. The closing and establishment of the joint venture company are subject to certain closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals..

该计划中的合资企业将利用安斯泰来在细胞治疗研发和制造方面的专业知识，以及安川电机子公司机器人生物学研究所开发的双臂机器人“Maholo”。合资公司的成立和最终确定需符合某些条件，包括获得所需的监管批准。

Joint Venture Company: Overview

合资企业：概述

Name

名称

To be determined

待定

Capital

资本

4.5 billion yen (includes capital reserve)

45亿日元（含资本储备）

Capital Structure

资本结构

Astellas 60%, YASKAWA 40%

安斯泰来60%，安川电机40%

Establishment

成立

（tentative）

（试行）

September 2025

2025年9月

Business

商业

Develop a cell therapy product manufacturing platform and offer access to startups and academic institutions.

开发一个细胞治疗产品生产平台，并向初创企业和学术机构提供访问权限。

Explore a manufacturing process with high precision and reproducibility using 'Maholo' and optimize the digitized manufacturing process with AI

利用“Maholo”探索一个高精度和高可重复性的制造过程，并使用人工智能优化数字化制造流程。

Transfer the digitalized manufacturing process to 'Maholo' at other manufacturing facilities via one-click

通过一键操作将数字化制造流程转移到其他制造工厂的‘Maholo’系统中。

*

*

transfer and develop a cell manufacturing platform that meets GMP conditions

转移并开发符合GMP条件的细胞制造平台

Develop manufacturing processes for cell therapy product candidates of partners, such as academia and startups, as well as manufacture investigational drugs in GMP facilities

为合作伙伴（如学术机构和初创公司）开发细胞治疗产品候选物的制造工艺，并在GMP设施中生产研究性药物。

* GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice):

* GMP（良好生产规范）：

A standard for ensuring the safety and quality of pharmaceuticalproduct manufacturing

确保药品生产安全和质量的标准

* One Click Transfer:

* 一键传输：

Rapid transfer of established manufacturing process to facilities without hands-on training of workers

快速将成熟的制造工艺转移到没有工人实际操作培训的设施

Through the establishment of a joint venture and the development of a cell therapy manufacturing platform, Astellas is committed to addressing the challenges of commercializing cell therapy and supporting academia and startup companies in implementing innovative cell therapies. By integrating advanced technologies into its cell therapy expertise, Astellas aims to develop potentially transformative cell therapy for patients with limited or no treatment options.

通过成立合资公司并开发细胞治疗生产平台，安斯泰来致力于应对细胞治疗商业化挑战，并支持学术界和初创公司实施创新的细胞治疗。通过将先进技术融入其细胞治疗专业知识，安斯泰来旨在为治疗选择有限或无治疗选择的患者开发潜在变革性的细胞疗法。

YASKAWA has provided automation solutions for medical testing processes, including cancer genome diagnostics, iPS cell culture, and PCR testing, through delivering 'Maholo.' With the establishment of a joint venture, YASKAWA aims to expand the use cases of robots in the field of cell therapy beyond the existing life science field..

YASKAWA通过提供“Maholo”，为包括癌症基因组诊断、iPS细胞培养和PCR检测在内的医疗检测流程提供了自动化解决方案。随着合资企业的成立，YASKAWA旨在扩大机器人在细胞治疗领域的应用案例，超越现有的生命科学领域。

About Astellas

关于安斯泰来

Astellas is a global life sciences company committed to turning innovative science into VALUE for patients. We provide transformative therapies in disease areas that include oncology, ophthalmology, urology, immunology and women's health. Through our research and development programs, we are pioneering new healthcare solutions for diseases with high unmet medical need.

安斯泰来是一家全球生命科学公司，致力于将创新科学转化为对患者的 VALUE。我们在肿瘤学、眼科、泌尿科、免疫学和妇女健康等疾病领域提供变革性疗法。通过我们的研发项目，我们正在为那些存在高度未满足医疗需求的疾病开拓新的医疗解决方案。