Astellas Pharma Europe Limited (APEL) is a pharmaceutical company actively engaged in lobbying activities within the European Union, registered in the EU Transparency Register since 24 September 2015. The company focuses on providing high-quality medicines, particularly in areas of high unmet medical need. Its lobbying efforts target a broad range of EU policy areas including intellectual property rights (notably orphan and pediatric medicines), free trade agreements (EU/US, EU/UK), the EU Cancer Plan, the EU Green Deal with emphasis on pharmaceuticals in the environment, industrial strategy, competition law, Horizon Europe research framework, the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), clinical trials regulation, data protection regulation, and digital health. Other key interests include manufacturing, health outcomes, real-world evidence, pricing, reimbursement, market access, cancer, healthcare sustainability, and transparency in payments to healthcare professionals and organizations.
APEL operates with a relatively small lobbying team, employing 1.25 full-time equivalent lobbyists as of the latest data, with no lobbyists holding European Parliament accreditation. The company has reported lobbying expenditures of approximately €450,000 for the financial year April 2019 to March 2020. These costs include membership fees to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), of which Astellas is a member. The company is committed to transparency in its interactions with healthcare professionals and organizations, disclosing transfers of value in line with EFPIA codes and applicable laws to strengthen public trust.
APEL’s lobbying activities are conducted primarily through participation in EFPIA and national pharmaceutical associations, engaging with EU policymakers and stakeholders on industrial, health, and life science policies. Although no specific meetings with EU institutions have been declared in the register, the company actively participates in relevant events and policy discussions. The head office is located in the United Kingdom, with an EU office in Belgium, facilitating its engagement with EU institutions.
Overall, Astellas Pharma Europe Limited represents a focused pharmaceutical lobbyist with a clear commitment to transparency and ethical engagement in EU policymaking processes, particularly in areas impacting pharmaceutical innovation, regulation, and sustainability
