NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 26, 2016 -- Astellas has earned CEO Cancer Gold Standard re-accreditation for maintaining a strong commitment to the health of its employees and satisfying the latest, comprehensive requirements of the Gold Standard. The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs founded by former President George H.W. Bush, developed and administers the Gold Standard, an employee wellness accreditation program that addresses cancer in the workplace.

To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an employer must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by taking concrete actions in five key areas: establishing policies and programs to reduce cancer risk by prohibiting tobacco use and supporting tobacco cessation efforts; promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; providing health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, access to quality care and participation in cancer clinical trials; promoting employee awareness of these initiatives; and supporting the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.

Astellas was first recognized by the Gold Standard in 2012 for its commitment to employees and their dependents in cancer prevention, screening, detection, treatment and clinical trials. The company continues to provide innovative cancer related benefits, most recently adding coverage for cryogenically freezing eggs of women undergoing cancer radiation.

“The health and well-being of our employees is of paramount importance to us, which is why we have taken every measure possible to exceed the requirements of Gold Standard,” said Collette Taylor, senior vice president, Human Resources and Facilities at Astellas. “We want to create an environment that allows our employees to thrive, so they can live full and healthy lives outside the workplace, and this recognition is an indication we have been successful in doing that.”

Nearly 200 private, nonprofit and government employers in diverse industries have earned Gold Standard accreditation, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a number of NCI-designated cancer centers.

About The CEO Roundtable on Cancer

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer was founded in 2001, when former President George H.W. Bush challenged a group of executives to "do something bold and venturesome about cancer within your own corporate families." Since then, the Roundtable has created the CEO Cancer Gold Standard, the CEO Life Sciences Consortium, and Project Data Sphere.  More information about the Roundtable can be found at www.CEORoundTableonCancer.org.

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, Facebook at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/astellas-pharma.