AstraZeneca unlocks medical research cupboard to academia, as UK plans boost for pharma sector

5 December 2011

In a ground-breaking scientific collaboration, Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) this morning announced that a wide range of compounds will be made available free of charge to UK medical researchers next year, following an agreement with the Medical Research Council (MRC).

In a new type of collaboration, academia will be granted access to 22 compounds, developed by AstraZeneca. Among these is saracatanib (AZD0530), a drug studied in late-stage trials for solid cancer tumors, including pancreatic cancer. Others are believed to have potential in Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. Some have been tested in humans and others are still in pre-clinical stages. Through MRC funding, UK academia will conduct studies to better understand what drives a range of diseases with a view to exploring new treatment opportunities, says the drugmaker.

£180 million boost for UK biomedical sector

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