North American Headquarters, Astellas Pharma Inc. of Japan

In late 2004, Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc., based in Deerfield, Illinois, and Yamanouchi Pharma America, Inc., of  Paramus, New Jersey, announced a merger of their North American headquarter operations at Fujisawa’s Deerfield headquarters, leasing additional space to accommodate the new operations.  The new combined company, named Astellas Pharma US Inc., announced the merger would retain 350 jobs and add 75 more in Deerfield.

Fujisawa and Yamanouchi had considered both Fujisawa’s Deerfield location, as well as Yamanouchi’s Paramus, New Jersey location as potential new homes.  The State of Illinois provided $8.2 million in incentives in the form of a $500,000 Large Business Development Program grant and estimated $7.7 million in EDGE tax credits over a ten year period.

The establishment of Astellas’ North American Headquarters further established greater Chicago as a high profile center for foreign investment and adds to the sizeable Japanese investment in the area, which includes well over 300 companies to date. As of 2006, Astellas is the third largest pharmaceutical company in Japan.