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AstraZeneca

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AstraZeneca PLC
Company typePublic LSE, NYSE and OMX: AZN
IndustryPharmaceutical
Founded6 April 1999 by merger
HeadquartersCorporate HQ in London, England
R&D HQ in Södertälje, Sweden
ProductsPharmaceutical products for humans
Revenue$22.94 billion (2004)
2,924,000,000 United States dollar (2019) Edit this on Wikidata
1,227,000,000 United States dollar (2019) Edit this on Wikidata
Total assets61,377,000,000 United States dollar (2019) Edit this on Wikidata
Number of employees
64,200 (2004)
Websitewww.astrazeneca.com

AstraZeneca PLC[1] (LSE: AZN, NYSE: AZN), is a large Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company formed on 6 April 1999 by the merger of Swedish Astra AB and British Zeneca Group PLC. Zeneca was part of Imperial Chemical Industries prior to a demerger in 1993. AstraZeneca develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals to treat disorders in the gastrointestinal, cardiac and vascular, neurological and psychiatric, infection, respiratory, pathological inflammation and oncology areas.

Sales in 2004 totalled $21.4 billion, with a profit before tax of $4.8 billion. Total R&D spending was $3.8 billion. The corporate headquarters are in London, UK, the research and development (R&D) headquarters are in Södertälje, Sweden. Major R&D centres are located on three continents in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, and India.

The current chief executive of AstraZeneca is David Brennan.[2] He replaced Sir Tom McKillop on January 1, 2006.

Corporate structure

Current members of the board of directors of AstraZeneca are: Peter Bonfield, David Brennan, John Buchanan, Jane Henney, Michele Hooper, Joe Jimenez, Tom McKillop, Håkan Mogren, Erna Möller, Bridget Ogilvie, John Patterson, Louis Schweitzer, Jonathan Symonds, and Marcus Wallenberg.

Merger and acquisition activity

AstraZeneca has, following a collaborative relationship begun in 2004,[1] commenced the aquisition of Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT).[2] The company is currently in the final stages of exercising compulsory acquisition options against outstanding CAT shares.[3]

Collaborations and alliances

Diversity

AstraZeneca is one of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers in 2004 according to Working Mothers magazine.[3]

AstraZeneca and Breast Cancer

AstraZeneca is the major sponsor for Breast Cancer Awareness Month which focuses on early detection and treatment[4]. AstraZeneca is also a leading producer of breast cancer treatment drugs like Tamoxifen and Arimidex

Products

AstraZeneca specialises in prescription medicines to fight disease in the several therapeutic areas. Year-on sales information can be found through AstraZeneca annual reports. The following is a list of key products as found on the AstraZeneca website, retrieved 2005-03-27.

Controversy over Nexium

Nexium, the successor to Prilosec, has according to some commentators "become a symbol of everything that is wrong with the pharmaceutical industry".[5] The issue was that of evergreening patents, which in effect would extend the market dominence of certain proprietry medicines. Esomeprazole is a single stereoisomer of omeprazole and based upon available evidence there seems to be little difference between the two in dose-related response. However, AZ as owners of the lucrative Losec patent sought to extend domination of the PPI market with Nexium, marketed as the successor to the original drug. Though identical in biological action, the new drug could be patented, thus achieving "evergreening" of the product and maintaining market share.

See also

References

  1. ^ standard practice is that the name be pronounced as "Astra Zeneca" rather than "Astrazeneca".
  2. ^ AstraZeneca PLC (July 28, 2005). The Board of AstraZeneca PLC announces the appointment of David R Brennan as Chief Executive with effect from 1 January 2006 upon the retirement at that time of Sir Tom McKillop. Press release.
  3. ^ AstraZeneca Profile. Verified availability February 3, 2006.
  4. ^ Gladwell, Malcolm (October 25, 2004). "High Prices: How to think about prescription drugs". The New Yorker. Verified availability August 5, 2005.

Notes

  1. ^ Press release, 22 November 2004
  2. ^ May 15, 2006 MarketWatch report
  3. ^ Press release, 7 July 2006
  4. ^ Press release, 5 July 2006
  5. ^ Press release, 27 July 2005
  6. ^ Press release, 11 July 2005
  7. ^ "Pennsylvania Bio - Member Listings". Pennsylvania Bio web site. Retrieved October 8, 2005.
  8. ^ Press release, 27 July 2005
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