Astellas Supports Transplant Recipients with Donations to the HealthWell Foundation and the Patient Access Network Foundation

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma US, Inc. ("Astellas"), a U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo: 4503), today announced it has provided unrestricted donations to two non-profit organizations that provide financial assistance to transplant recipients to defray costs for certain medications and therapies.

Both organizations – the HealthWell Foundation and the Patient Access Network Foundation –support patients with chronic or life-threatening illnesses, including transplant recipients facing expenses from immunosuppressive and other post-transplant-related therapies. The foundations work to ensure that no patient is denied necessary treatment because of financial barriers.  

"We are proud to be working with the HealthWell Foundation and the Patient Access Network Foundation and hope that through these donations more patients will have access to the medications they need," said Walt Johnston, Vice President of Marketing, Astellas Pharma US, Inc. "Astellas has been dedicated to the transplant community for more than 20 years and continues to support the community through efforts such as this."

The donations will benefit transplant recipients who apply for financial assistance for their immunosuppressant medications. To date, the HealthWell Foundation has awarded more than 14,000 grants totaling over $11 million to more than 8,400 post-transplant immunosuppressive therapy patients. Since the program launched in 2010, the Patient Access Network's Solid Organ Transplant Immunosuppression co-pay assistance program has paid out more than $4.2 million in financial assistance to nearly 3,700 post-transplant immunosuppression therapy patients.

Astellas supports transplant recipients and the transplant community through numerous educational programs and donations, and has done so for more than 20 years. Among its offerings, Astellas provides a dedicated patient education resource through its Transplant Experience program. Transplant Experience is designed to provide transplant recipients with the information they need through each stage of the transplant process: pre-transplant, the first year and beyond.

For more information regarding the HealthWell Foundation and the organization's assistance programs, please visit www.healthwellfoundation.org. For more information regarding the Patient Access Network and its foundation's programs, please visit www.panfoundation.org.

About the HealthWell Foundation

The HealthWell Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to cover coinsurance, copayments, health care premiums and deductibles for certain medications and therapies.

About the Patient Access Network Foundation

The Patient Access Network foundation is an independent, national 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to providing underinsured patients with co-payment assistance through nearly 50 disease-specific programs, including Solid Organ Transplant.

About Astellas

Astellas is a recognized leader in transplantation and has been committed to the field of immunology for more than 20 years. Dedicated to supporting the advancement of care for patients, Astellas continues to build upon its legacy and leadership in transplantation by investing in ongoing clinical research and new product development.

Astellas Pharma US, Inc., located in Northbrook, Illinois, is a US affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. For more information about Astellas Pharma US, Inc., please visit our website at www.Astellas.us.

SOURCE Astellas Pharma US, Inc.