Eurofins Scientific has signed an outsourcing agreement with Astellas to outsource one of its internal testing laboratories Astellas Analytical Science Laboratories, Inc. (“ASL”).

ASL was established in 1996 as the core pharmaceutical product testing provider for Astellas Pharma Inc., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Japan. ASL offers analytical testing services that allow high-quality pharmaceuticals to enter the market. The company provides quality assessment of raw materials, drug substances and preparations related to drug approval applications. It also offers quality evaluation of formulation, stability evaluation, test method validation, physicochemical testing and microbiological testing using the latest analytical instruments available, including Cell Based Assay (CBA) for antibodies. ASL is located in Kyoto and employs more than 140 staff. As part of this outsourcing program, Astellas has committed to provide ASL work covering its current capacity for an agreed period of time as the company invests in further capabilities and staff to serve a wider range of clients.

ASL will be Eurofins’ first laboratory in Japan offering test services with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard. It will become a key laboratory for the Group’s global GMP laboratory network, counting already more than 30 GMP sites in Europe, India and the USA

Dr. Gilles Martin, Eurofins chief executive officer, said, “We are very pleased that Astellas has entrusted Eurofins with its high quality internal laboratory, ASL. This is recognition of the high scientific and quality level of Eurofins’ network of GMP Biopharma product testing laboratories. With ASL and our other GMP sites we are committed to providing Astellas and our expanding group of clients in the APAC region with continued unmatched high level of service. We look forward to welcoming ASL to Eurofins’ family of businesses. We are very excited to collaborate with Astellas Pharma Inc., one of the most innovative pharmaceutical companies in the world, and are eager to develop a long term mutually-beneficial relationship with them.”