Nikkei retreats from 10-month highs before Fed

TOKYO, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average pulled back from 10-month highs on Wednesday as concerns over a U.S. economic recovery grew, with investors locking in profits before the end of a Federal Reserve meeting.

Japan's No. 2 drug company, Astellas Pharma (4503.T), extended losses to 3.8 percent on looming competition and a ratings downgrade after Novartis said during Tokyo market hours on Tuesday that its Sandoz unit has launched the first generic version of Astellas' Prograf transplant drug. [ID:nT344249]

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 shed 0.8 percent or 82.50 points to 10,502.96 after hitting a 10-month high of 10,587.36 the day before. The broader Topix fell 0.9 percent to 964.78. (Reporting by Elaine Lies)