| Monday 6 September, 2010 |
GöteborgBIO
Medicinaregatan 8A
SE- 413 46 Göteborg
Sweden
Phone: +46 (0)31 - 61 24 02
Fax: +46 (0)31 - 41 97 00
AstraZeneca will continue to invest in research and development in all of its current therapy areas (Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Oncology, Respiratory, Inflammation, Neuroscience and Infection). However, within those broader therapy areas, AstraZeneca intends to cease discovery efforts in the following specific diseases: thrombosis (Cardiovascular); acid reflux (Gastrointestinal); ovarian and bladder cancers (Oncology); systemic scleroderma (Inflammation); schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety (Neuroscience); hepatitis C and vaccines other than respiratory syncytial virus and influenza (Infection).
AstraZeneca estimates that approximately 3,500 R&D positions worldwide will be affected by these changes by 2014. After taking account of relocations to other sites, investment in new capabilities and further expansion of the company´s biologics activities, a net reduction of around 1,800 positions across R&D is expected.
As a result of this disease area focus and the creation of new Innovative Medicines Units and a Global Medicines Development function, AstraZeneca has proposed the merger or closure of some R&D sites over the next few years. AstraZeneca currently has 17 principal R&D centres in eight countries in Europe, North America and Asia.
In Sweden, the research unit in Lund will be closed at the end of 2011 as a part of focusing early research in this therapeutic area to a global hub located in Mölndal. The site in Mölndal will consequently grow and become the hub of two of the group therapy areas in the early research: Cardiovascular/Gastro Intestinal and Respiratory / Inflammation. Parts from Lund and Charnwood to be moved there.
For more information, visit www.astrazeneca.com
or www.astrazeneca.se
