NORTHBROOK, Ill., June 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas announces the appointment of Karl D. Uhlendorf as communications and advocacy director, effective July 28, 2014. Uhlendorf will report to Margaret Long, vice president, business communications and advocacy. In this newly created position, Uhlendorf will be responsible for strengthening the company's media and advocacy presence in Washington D.C., as well as providing strategic communications counsel to the Astellas Corporate Communications and Government Affairs team. Currently, Uhlendorf serves as the vice president, communications and public affairs, at the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

"Karl's knowledge and experience adds another valuable dimension to our growing communications team," said Long. "We are eager to leverage Karl's expertise in a number of key focus areas, namely media, public affairs and advocacy."

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Astellas team at such a dynamic time in the company's history," said Uhlendorf. "I look forward to helping convey Astellas' commitment to improving the health of patients around the world through the development of new medicines – and the importance of public policies that make such high-quality innovations accessible to patients."

Uhlendorf's appointment is the latest phase in the building of the new Corporate Communications team that was launched at Astellas in late 2013 with the appointment of Jeff Winton, senior vice president, chief communications officer.

Uhlendorf has more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications and has successfully managed diverse public affairs and editorial teams. Prior to joining PhRMA in 2006, Uhlendorf held various positions of increasing responsibility at F-D-C Reports/Elsevier Business Intelligence, where he was editorial director of "The Pink Sheet" and other leading trade publications delivering news and analysis of  Food and Drug Administration-regulated industries. Uhlendorf holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

About Astellas

Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS.

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SOURCE Astellas