A $110 million bet on a prostate cancer medicine gave Astellas Pharma Inc. a blockbuster that helped turn it into one of Asia’s most valuable drugmakers. Now, with patent expirations looming in 2019, Chief Executive Officer Yoshihiko Hatanaka is setting off on a hunt for his next best seller.
Armed with about $3.6 billion in cash, the Japanese drugmaker is assessing various investment options.