Astellas Restructures Universal Cells, Expands in Japan, Cuts Seattle Roles
Astellas Pharma is advancing its cell therapy capabilities by expanding Universal Cells with a new site in Tsukuba, Japan. This strategic move involves transferring 12 roles from Seattle to Tsukuba and aims to enhance gene editing capabilities using Universal Cells' unique recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) platform[1][2]. This expansion is part of a broader effort to develop a center of excellence for cell therapy research and development, leveraging cutting-edge technology that avoids DNA strand breaks and off-target genome alterations[2].
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Explore Further
What are the specific gene editing advancements Astellas hopes to achieve with the new site in Tsukuba, Japan?
How will the transition of roles and elimination of positions in Seattle impact Astellas' operations in the U.S.?
What are the potential advantages of using the rAAV gene editing platform over traditional nuclease-based methods according to Astellas?
How does the restructuring of Universal Cells fit into Astellas' overall global strategy for innovation?
What role will the new life sciences center in Cambridge, Massachusetts play in Astellas' future research and development plans?