ASTRAZENECA EXTENDS ITS INVESTMENT IN RUSSIA WITH NEW R&D PREDICTIVE SCIENCE CENTRE IN ST. PETERSBURG, AstraZeneca Russia

Release Date: 2011-07-15

Company to contribute $1.2 billion over five years to the Russian economy

AstraZeneca announced plans to establish an R&D Predictive Science Centre in St. Petersburg over the coming year. The move strengthens AstraZeneca’s investments in Russia and supports the Russian Government’s strategy to modernise and develop the country’s pharmaceutical sector.The new Predictive Science Centre, the company’s first in Russia, will leverage local scientific talent and will be focused on developing bioinformatics, data analysis methods, software and systems to better predict the safety and efficacy of potential new medicines. Approximately 30 people will work at the Centre through collaborations with local companies and organisations.AstraZeneca will also sign a related collaboration agreement with the St. Petersburg government tomorrow. Both parties will establish a joint expert group on the basis of the new R&D center to cooperate in the sphere of computer biomedicine development. Earlier this year, the company began construction of a new $150 million manufacturing facility in the Kaluga region to supply Russia with quality AstraZeneca medicines that are locally manufactured. In addition, AstraZeneca has established several partnerships with Russian development institutes, including the Skolkovo Innovation Centre and Russia Venture Company, to share its global R&D expertise through research collaborations, grant programs, and clinical trials. The new R&D and manufacturing investments, as well as an increased clinical research focus in Russia, reinforce AstraZeneca’s long term commitment to the market. Overall contribution to the Russian economy will constitute $1.2 billion over the next five years.Elvira Nabiullina, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation: “Innovative economy development, including modernization of Russian pharmaceutical industry, is one of our key priorities today. We greet such investors as AstraZeneca, which not only locate their high-tech manufacturing in Russia, but are also ready to share extensive R&D expertise. We are confident that worldwide experience engagement is a pre-requisite for Russian economy modernization, and we are open for partnership”.

Speaking today at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia, David Brennan, Chief Executive of AstraZeneca, said: “Russia is a dynamic market for AstraZeneca where our growing investments will help us to bring to patients high quality, innovative products that are locally produced. We are pleased to contribute to the development of an innovative pharmaceutical sector in Russia through our new infrastructure capabilities, established operations, and scientific and educational collaborations”.

Type:	NORMAL
Company:	AstraZeneca Russia
Country:	Russian Federation
Url:	www.astrazeneca.ru