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AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, with a broad range of medicines designed to fight disease in important areas of healthcare. Backed by strong science and wide-ranging commercial skills, they are committed to sustainable development of their business and the delivery of a flow of new medicines that make a difference in the lives of patients and create value for their shareholders and wider society.
They focus their resources on six therapy areas where they believe their skills and resources can make the most difference. These areas include some of the world's most serious illnesses and together represent a major worldwide burden of disease: cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience and respiratory & inflammation.
Their broad product portfolio includes many world leaders and a number of high potential growth products: Arimidex (cancer), Crestor (cardiovascular), Nexium (gastrointestinal disease), Seroquel (schizophrenia) and Symbicort (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Active in over 100 countries with growing presence in important emerging markets; corporate office in London UK; major R&D sites in Sweden, the UK and the US. Sales in 2006 totaled $26.5 billion, with an operating profit of $8.2 billion.
They spend over $16 million every working day on the research and development of new medicines that meet patient needs. (Total R&D spend in 2006: $3.9 billion).They employ around 12,000 people at 16 research and development centers in 8 countries.27 manufacturing sites in 19 countries.
Over 66,000 employees (58% in Europe, 27% in the Americas and 15% in Asia, Africa and Australasia).In china, the company partners with Wuxi in China - Astra (Wuxi) Pharmaceutical Corp & Wuxi Manufacturing @ Wuxi in Jiangsu Province.
A&Z in China
AstraZeneca China has its headquarters in Shanghai, with branch offices in more than 20 cities across mainland China. A world-class manufacturing site in Wuxi, Jiang Su Province was inaugurated in 2001. About 80% of the products it sells in China are manufactured in Wuxi.
As one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with a strong R&D base, leading manufacturing capabilities and powerful marketing force, AstraZeneca aspires to provide innovative and effective medicines to Chinese patients within our prioritized therapeutic areas.
Since AstraZeneca came to China in 1993, we now have more than 2900 employees involved in the manufacturing, sales, marketing and clinical research of new products. Following our concept of "in China, for China," we developed four key strategies: develop innovative products, strengthen partnerships with local research institutions, develop local talent, and practice good corporate citizenship. Since 2002, AstraZeneca has sustained a healthy and rapid development in China. The company now leads other multinational companies in prescription drugs sales and international multi-center clinical trials.
The mission of AstraZeneca China is to develop, supply and market highly innovative medicines of superior quality in our prioritized therapeutic areas in China. We are determined to conduct our business responsibly, strengthen our long-term commitment to China and become a partner of choice.
AstraZeneca is committed to being a good corporate citizen and aspires to be the partner of choice for China's medical community. In an effort to improve R&D capabilities of local partners, AstraZeneca has collaborated closely with distinguished academic and research institutions. The company also allocates significant resources to educating Chinese medical professionals on latest clinical findings and best international practices.
AstraZeneca China Supply Point, located in Wuxi New District, Jiangsu Province, was inaugurated in 2001. Total investment for the site is $134 million, the largest manufacturing investment of AstraZeneca in Asia. The site covers 96,000m2 of total area, with construction floor space of 36,000 m2.
Wuxi site is equipped with an advanced sterile production area, state-of-the-art laboratories, an automatic high-bay warehouse and efficient utility facilities. The site employs nearly 300 people.
Five dosage forms are manufactured here: tablets, capsules, oral solutions, aerosols and injectable lyophilized powder. The site has passed both the China and EU GMP certification, and is authorized to export products to EU and other countries adopting EU standards. 80% of the products sold in China are manufactured in the Wuxi site.
AstraZeneca has been recognized for its continued contribution to Wuxi's long-term economic and social prosperity. The company was awarded "Outstanding Foreign Invested Enterprise" for several times. During 2001 to 2005, AstraZeneca contributed a total of 750 million RMB of tax. In January 2006, AstraZeneca received the honor of "Ten Five-Year Period Open Economy Contribution Award" from Wuxi Municipal Government.
To increase productivity to meet the demands of the local market, in early 2006, AstraZeneca announced to invest $35 million into the Wuxi site over the next 5 years.
A&Z research center in China
AstraZeneca Opens East Asia Clinical Research Centre In Shanghai on 26 November 2002.
The unit is the first clinical research centre from an international pharmaceutical company spanning East Asia (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea). With its establishment, AstraZeneca becomes the first international pharmaceutical company in China to localize not only manufacturing and sales and marketing functions, but also an R&D centre overseeing East Asia clinical research and development.
Mr. Steen Kroyer is the President, AstraZeneca China.
The research centre will seek to develop closer relations with Chinese health institutions and organizations. The significant number of high quality medical talent available in Shanghai was the reason that AstraZeneca chose to locate the center there. In 2003, the ACRU-EA aims to employ over 40 staff.
Currently employing 1,000 staff, AstraZeneca China operation began around 100 years ago. Its Wuxi manufacturing centre opened in 2001 with an investment of $100 million. This represents the company’s largest investment in Asia, and one of the largest investments in China by a multi-national pharmaceutical company.
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with sales of over $16.4 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, anaesthesia (including pain management), cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory products. AstraZeneca spends over USD10 million every working day on research and development.
A&Z's investment in China
AstraZeneca intents to invest $100 million in R&D in China over the next three years, focusing on the benefit and value of innovative medicines for Chinese patients.
The prime focus of this programme will be the establishment of the AstraZeneca Innovation Centre China. The company has initiated a comprehensive search for an appropriate location for the Innovation Centre, which will be operational by the end of 2009. The Centre will focus on translational science by developing knowledge about Chinese patients, biomarkers and genetics. The initial therapeutic area for the Innovation Centre will be cancer, which is a major cause of death in China.
In addition, AstraZeneca will expand its clinical research capabilities and is looking this year to increase the number of scientific collaborations with local Chinese organizations. AstraZeneca has recently signed a deal worth $14 million with Wuxi Pharmatech for Compound Collection Synthesis and has an existing collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University on the genetics of schizophrenia.
AstraZeneca has become the leading multinational company in China by building a network of marketing and sales offices, a manufacturing site and fostering clinical research. AstraZeneca, which now has 2,200 employees locally, was the first multinational pharmaceutical company to include China as an area for large-scale international multi-centre trials and establish a clinical research centre there. AstraZeneca has long been dedicated to strengthening collaborations with local academic and medical institutions.
AstraZeneca is partnering with government organizations and industry associations to develop academic and management knowledge among medical professionals and hospital executives. AstraZeneca has also initiated a number of programmes on disease education and public health. At the same time, AstraZeneca is committed to being a good corporate citizen by fulfilling important social responsibilities. AstraZeneca has a strong commitment to core values that are founded on good business practices and compliance. AstraZeneca supports the government in striving for integrity in the healthcare system.
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