WuXi, AZ Expand Collaboration

WuXi PharmaTech has signed a new three-year collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca, expanding a two-year, $14 million collaboration from April 2006 under which WuXi delivered more than 100,000 compounds ahead of schedule. Under the new agreement, WuXi PharmaTech will synthesize compounds, according to AZ’s designs, which will further expand AZ’s global compound collection.
   
“This new collaboration agreement further strengthens our already productive relationship with AstraZeneca, and it is the direct result of our research capability and firm commitment to quality and customer satisfaction,” commented Dr. Ge Li, Chairman and chief executive officer of WuXi PharmaTech, “We are hopeful that with our strong and growing drug R&D capabilities the expansion of our collaboration will help AstraZeneca achieve its strategic goals.”
   
“The collaboration with WuXi PharmaTech has exceeded our expectations delivering value to AstraZeneca beyond the cost savings in labor and materials,” said Deborah Hartman, vice president, Lead Generation Discovery Enabling Capabilities and Sciences (DECS), AZ, “We are looking forward to the prospect of building on this success through our expanded relationship.”