ASTELLAS Q1 PROFIT RISES 13 PCT, KEEPS FORECASTS

Astellas Pharma (4503.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Japan's No.2 drug maker, posted a 13 percent rise in quarterly recurring profit on Tuesday, helped by solid sales of high-margin medicines such as blood-pressure drug Micardis, but kept its annual forecast for moderate growth. The company, created in April after Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical acquired Fujisawa Pharmaceutical, enjoyed a higher profit margin after hefty job cuts last year and increased sales of in-house drugs including new urinary incontinence drug Vesicare.

Reuters (http://today.reuters.com/business/newsArticle.aspx?type=health&storyID=nT45433)