AZ Boosts Boston R&D

AstraZeneca announced that it will make a $100 million research investment at its R&D center near Boston, MA to “strategically boost work in the infectious disease area and continue its incremental growth in cancer research.” The expansion of AZ’s research facility will accommodate as many as 100 additional researchers, who would join the 400+ current employees at the facility.

“This investment will significantly boost our research capabilities in two critical areas of medical need, and two areas where we have tremendous heritage,” said David Brennan, chief executive officer of AstraZeneca. “It will provide additional resources for our scientists who are tackling more complex diseases than ever before, as they work towards our ultimate goal of giving people hope for a healthier future.”

Jan Lundberg, executive vice president, AstraZeneca Global Discovery Research, added, “Infectious disease is becoming more prevalent and problematic to patients and healthcare providers, placing a heavy burden on our healthcare systems. With our expanded presence in Boston, our scientists will be better equipped to discover and develop novel medicines to address important areas of unmet need.”

Construction of the 132,000-sq.-ft. facility will begin at the Waltham, MA site during the first quarter of 2007, with scheduled completion by mid-2009. Upon completion, the total size of the AZ research facility will be 382,000 square feet.

Since the opening of AstraZeneca R&D Boston, scientists there have discovered three potential drugs that are under development to treat different cancers including breast, ovarian, thyroid and prostate cancer, and two novel-class candidate drugs to potentially treat serious skin infections, serious cases of chronic bronchitis and serious pneumonias.

In a press statement, an AZ spokesman contended that its presence near Boston “gives the company access to the leading scientific talent, potential partners and collaborators, and emerging science in a worldwide biotechnology hub.”