China a Priority for AstraZeneca
by Richad Daverman, PhD
ChinaBio Today
Expanding the presence of AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) in the Asia-Pacific region in general and China specifically is a priority for AstraZeneca, according to John Ramsey, AstraZeneca’s Vice President for Global Development. Ramsey made the remarks in an interview with EView Week.
Ramsey stressed that AstraZeneca is interested in developing drugs that address the needs of China’s population. Toward that end, AstraZeneca has established its Innovation Center China (ICC), which began operations in 2007 and establishes relationships with China’s universities and medical centers. Because of the company’s emphasis on China’s needs, Ramsey can boast that AstraZeneca’s $100 million investment in China (spread over two to three years) is the largest of any biopharma that is focused on China’s diseases.
The ICC will concentrate on cancer, seeking to learn more about liver cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer and pre-menopausal breast cancer. It will study the causes of the disease, define biomarkers and identify new targets for innovative drugs.
The growing China market for drugs is one reason that AstraZeneca chose to concentrate in China. But just as important was its pool of scientific talent and unique medical needs.
Although AstraZeneca China’s motto is “In China, For China,” the staff at ICC has the ability to work with AstraZeneca scientists from around the world. So far, the ICC has put on its staff 40 researchers, 40% of them with PhDs. The target is to hire 60 scientists.
AstraZeneca China currently has a total workforce of 2,500.
Worldwide, AstraZeneca has 65,000 employees, and about 12,000 of them are involved in drug discovery/development.
ChinaBio Today is a regular contributor to BioHealth Investor
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ChinaBio Today
Expanding the presence of AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) in the Asia-Pacific region in general and China specifically is a priority for AstraZeneca, according to John Ramsey, AstraZeneca’s Vice President for Global Development. Ramsey made the remarks in an interview with EView Week.
Ramsey stressed that AstraZeneca is interested in developing drugs that address the needs of China’s population. Toward that end, AstraZeneca has established its Innovation Center China (ICC), which began operations in 2007 and establishes relationships with China’s universities and medical centers. Because of the company’s emphasis on China’s needs, Ramsey can boast that AstraZeneca’s $100 million investment in China (spread over two to three years) is the largest of any biopharma that is focused on China’s diseases.
The ICC will concentrate on cancer, seeking to learn more about liver cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer and pre-menopausal breast cancer. It will study the causes of the disease, define biomarkers and identify new targets for innovative drugs.
The growing China market for drugs is one reason that AstraZeneca chose to concentrate in China. But just as important was its pool of scientific talent and unique medical needs.
Although AstraZeneca China’s motto is “In China, For China,” the staff at ICC has the ability to work with AstraZeneca scientists from around the world. So far, the ICC has put on its staff 40 researchers, 40% of them with PhDs. The target is to hire 60 scientists.
AstraZeneca China currently has a total workforce of 2,500.
Worldwide, AstraZeneca has 65,000 employees, and about 12,000 of them are involved in drug discovery/development.
ChinaBio Today is a regular contributor to BioHealth Investor
_________________
posted by Nico at
5:55 PM
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