Astellas seeks to expand transplant drug use in Japan

TOKYO, June 23 (Reuters) - Japanese drug maker Astellas Pharma Inc (4503.T: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it was seeking approval for an additional application of its key transplant drug in Japan.

Astellas said it had applied for the usage of transplant drug Prograf for ulcerative colitis. The drug is currently approved for bone marrow transplantation, systemic myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus nephritis in Japan.

Prograf, which is sold in more than 80 countries around the world, brings in some $2 billion in annual sales. Shares in Astellas were down 1.6 percent at 4,420 yen as of 0425 GMT, while the benchmark Nikkei share average .N225 was down 0.7 percent. (Reporting by Sachi Izumi; Editing by Hugh Lawson)