SAO PAULO, Aug. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Farma Brasil is one of the Top 20 small- to medium-sized companies to work for in the country across all industries, according to the Great Place to Work® Institute's latest rankings. The results are based on a survey of thousands of employees across multiple industries in Brazil.

The Great Place to Work Institute is a global human resources consulting, research and training firm. Its Great Place to Work® Model is based on 25 years of research and data collected through its Trust Index© Employee Survey, which is taken by over 10 million employees annually worldwide.

"This recognition is a great achievement for Astellas Farma Brasil and a validation of our efforts to create a best-in-class environment for our employees," said Luiz Claudio Dutra, general manager, Astellas Farma Brasil.

"Astellas stands out in Brazil because of our strong values - we work as One Astellas, regardless of function," said Fatima Neri, director of human resources at Astellas Farma Brasil. "Collaboration and pride is the essence of our team."

In April, Astellas Farma was honored by the Great Place to Work Institute as Brazil's top place to work in the pharmaceutical industry and recognized for fostering a culture with a strong focus on the patient and encouraging balance between the personal and professional. Astellas Farma offers a number of programs to enhance quality of life for employees, including six months of maternity leave and flexible hours.

"I started my career at Astellas in the Human Resources department, where I had the opportunity to learn about the pharmaceutical market and grow professionally. Later, I moved onto marketing, and recently, Astellas has offered me a new challenge as Events Coordinator," said Astellas Farma Brasil employee Carolina Kawanishi. "It is a pleasure to work in a company that provides a trusting environment and opportunities for growth, improvement and development."

About Astellas Farma Brasil
Astellas Farma Brasil, an affiliate of Astellas Pharma Inc located in Tokyo, Japan, is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. Astellas Farma Brasil focuses on Dermatology, Urology, Oncology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases as prioritized therapeutic areas. Astellas is on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients.For more information on Astellas Farma Brasil, please visit: http://www.astellasfarma.com.br/.

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SOURCE Astellas Farma Brasil