SAO PAULO, Aug. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Farma Brasil (AFB) is among the 20 best medium-sized (100-999 employees) multinational companies to work for across all industries in the country, according to the Great Place to Work® Institute's latest rankings. In June, AFB was honored by the Institute as one of the top three workplaces in the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry.

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 further validates our efforts to create a best-in-class environment for employees so we can focus on our dedication to patients across the country," said Luiz Claudio Dutra, general manager, Astellas Farma Brasil.

AFB – which has increased its workforce by more than 30 percent in Brazil this past year - fosters a strong culture based on the "The Astellas Way" – a philosophy that emphasizes a commitment to patients, ownership, results, openness and integrity. AFB also recognizes the importance of balance between personal and professional life and offers a number of programs to enhance quality of life for employees.

"At Astellas, we believe that our culture is our competitive advantage," said Fatima Neri, director of Human Resources, AFB. "Our passion, sense of purpose and respect for each other inspires bold performance and helps us recruit and retain the best employees."

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 Urology, Oncology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases as core 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