Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas is closing its Seattle stem cell therapy site as part of a broader consolidation of its cell and gene therapy and oncology research operations, with approximately 55 employees affected by the shutdown, according to Fierce Pharma.

The closure is expected to take two years, with the site's final shutdown scheduled for April 2028. Astellas originally acquired the Seattle facility through its $102.5 million (€94.8 million) acquisition of Universal Cells in 2018.

The decision reflects a wider strategic shift among global pharmaceutical companies to rationalise research infrastructure and concentrate resources on core therapeutic programmes, particularly as the cell and gene therapy sector faces increasing pressure over development costs and commercial returns.

Elsewhere in the sector, UK-based GSK is advancing a Hansoh Pharma-partnered antibody-drug conjugate into multiple Phase 3 clinical trials, reflecting growing confidence in its ADC pipeline as competition in the targeted oncology space intensifies among major global drugmakers.

Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo is divesting its consumer health business unit for approximately $1.55 billion (€1.43 billion), a move that allows the company to sharpen its strategic focus on its core prescription medicines and oncology portfolio, where it has established a strong position through its ADC development programme.

The decisions across Astellas, GSK, and Daiichi Sankyo collectively reflect a broader period of portfolio rationalisation across the global pharmaceutical industry, as companies realign operational resources toward high-value therapeutic areas, next-generation drug modalities, and commercially scalable pipeline assets.

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