AstraZeneca to Invest $2 Billion in US Biologics Facility
Fourth major US manufacturing investment announced this year, advancing AstraZeneca’s historic $50 billion commitment to medicines manufacturing and R&D.
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca to Invest $50 Billion in US Manufacturing
AstraZeneca recently announced $50 billion of investment in the US by 2030. This investment is expected to create tens of thousands of new, highly skilled jobs nationwide.
AstraZeneca to Establish Global Drug Research Center in Beijing
Britain’s AstraZeneca wants to invest $2.5 billion in Beijing, China to establish its sixth global strategic R&D center.
FibroGen Sells Chinese Subsidiary to AstraZeneca
US-based biotechnology company FibroGen announced the sale of its China subsidiary to AstraZeneca for approximately $160 million.
AstraZeneca Plans $570 Million Investment in Canada
To support the move to a larger office facility in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, AstraZeneca plans to invest $570 million in Canada, creating more than 700 jobs.
AstraZeneca to Invest $3.5 Billion in the US
Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca plans to invest $3.5 billion in the US to expand the company’s research and manufacturing footprint by the end of 2026.
AstraZeneca to Build $1.5 Billion ADC Production Facility in Singapore
In a move to enhance global supply of its antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) portfolio, AstraZeneca intends to build a $1.5 billion facility in Singapore for the manufacturing of ADCs.
AstraZeneca to Buy Fusion Pharmaceuticals for Up to $2.4 Billion
AstraZeneca has agreed to acquire Fusion Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation radioconjugates (RCs).
AstraZeneca to Buy Amolyt Pharma for up to $1.05 Billion
Britain's AstraZeneca is to acquire Amolyt Pharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel treatments for rare endocrine diseases, more than $1 billion.
AstraZeneca Plans £650 Million Investment in UK
AstraZeneca, whose CEO Pascal Soriot has been critical of the UK business environment for the life sciences industry in the past, wants to invest a large sum at its homebase. On Mar. 6, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that the pharma giant plans to invest £650 million in the UK.
AstraZeneca Completes Acquisitions of Gracell and Icosavax
Within a few days, Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has completed the acquisitions of Gracell Biotechnologies and Icosavax. Both transactions were announced in December 2023.
AstraZeneca to Construct New US Cell Therapy Facility
In a move to launch its cell therapy platforms for critical cancer trials in the US, AstraZeneca is investing $300 million in a new facility in Rockville, Maryland. The site will initially focus on the production of T-cell therapies, with the possibility of supporting other disease areas in the future.
AstraZeneca to Buy Cell Therapy Developer Gracell for Up to $1.2 Billion
AstraZeneca has agreed to acquire Gracell Biotechnologies, a Chinese developer of cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, for up to $1.2 billion. Only on Dec. 12, 2023, AstraZeneca announced that it was planning to acquire Icosavax for $1.2 billion.
AstraZeneca to Buy Vaccine Company Icosavax for $1.1 Billion
AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement to acquire Icosavax, a US biopharmaceutical company based in Seattle in a deal worth up to $1.1 billion. The company focuses on the development of differentiated vaccines with high potential using an innovative virus-like protein (VLP) particle platform.
AstraZeneca Invests $245 Million in French Biotech Cellectis
Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca entered into a collaboration and investment agreement with Cellectis, a French clinical-stage biotechnology company, to accelerate the development of therapeutics across oncology, immunology and rare diseases.
AstraZeneca Granted Global Starmap AI License for Nanoform
Nanoform, a nanoparticle medical technology company, has awarded AstraZeneca a global online STARMAP license. STARMAP is an AI-based digital rendition of CESS technology, facilitating in-silico experiments for selecting molecules to be nanoformed. This license enables AstraZeneca to screen molecules during the entire drug development process.
AstraZeneca, SAS Team up on AI and Analytics in Clinical Trials
AI and analytics software company SAS is collaborating with global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to increase efficiency and drive automation in the delivery of statistical analyses for clinical and post-approval submissions to regulatory authorities.
AstraZeneca Acquires Early-stage Gene Therapies from Pfizer
Alexion, AstraZeneca's rare disease division, has agreed to buy a portfolio of preclinical gene therapy programs and enabling technologies from competitor Pfizer for up to $1 billion, plus tiered royalties on sales.
Navigating Uncertainty in the Biopharma Market
Biopharma companies are facing funding challenges in 2023 as interest rates rise and investors are becoming more risk adverse. There is hope on the horizon, say some analysts, while others project a prolonged slump due to inflation and global instability. Established pharmaceutical companies are often seen as safer investments, with larger developers expected to perform well in 2023, especially if litigation threats against drugs like Zantac disappear. However, concerns about revenue gaps continue for big companies like GSK and Sanofi, and their strategy and leadership will be closely monitored in the coming months.
UK Health Records Underpin Vaxzevria Concerns
An analysis of British records for December 2020-May 2022 is said to show that young women aged 12-29 who received at least one dose of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine may have been more likely to die of a heart problem. However, the findings may not apply to the entire population.
Global Pharma Reduces Marketing Staff in India
As part of what seems to be a general pattern of staff reductions in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide, a growing number of Western drugmakers are downsizing their sales and marketing presence in India.
Aristea Halts Clinical Trial, Dissolves Company
Safety findings in Phase 2 clinical trials have forced Aristea Therapeutics to stop developing its lead candidate RIST4721 for treating serious immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. As a consequence, Aristea’s management has decided to dissolve the company.
Amgen-Horizon Deal under Intense Scrutiny
Amgen’s proposed acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics for $28.7 billion, including debt, would be the largest healthcare deal since AstraZeneca’s $39 billion purchase of Alexion in 2021, if it goes ahead. As such, it is under intense scrutiny.
AstraZeneca Buys CinCor Pharma
AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement to buy CinCor Pharma, a US-based clinical-stage biopharma focused on developing novel treatments for resistant and uncontrolled hypertension as well as chronic kidney disease.
AstraZeneca Sells US Site to National Resilience
Two weeks after annnouncing that it would no longer seek to market its Covid-19 vaccine in the US, Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has unveiled plans to sell its production site at West Chester, Ohio, to privately-held biomanufacturing company National Resilience.
UK’s CPI Opens Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Center
The UK’s Center for Process Innovation (CPI) opened its Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Center in Glasgow on Nov. 30, with the aim of accelerating new technologies in the pharma industry.
AstraZeneca Boosts Cancer Portfolio with Neogene Buy
AstraZeneca has agreed to acquire Neogene Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and manufacture of next-generation T-cell receptor therapies (TCR-Ts) – a promising and novel cell therapy approach to target cancer.
AstraZeneca Withdraws US Vaxzevria Launch Plan
AstraZeneca (AZ) has announced it is permanently backing away from any plans to sell its Vaxzevria-branded Covid-19 vaccine in the US.
Pharma CEOs Take Action on Climate Change
The CEOs of seven multinational pharmaceutical companies have announced that they are taking joint action to achieve near-term emissions reduction targets and accelerate the delivery of net zero health systems.
EU Public Prosecutor Probes Vaccine Mega Order
The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) has confirmed that it is looking into the EU Commission’s ordering of Covid-19 vaccines, with the probe thought to pertain in particular to order activity outside the usual purchasing channels.
Alexion Strengthens Genomics with LogicBio Buy
AstraZeneca’s rare disease arm Alexion has agreed to acquire LogicBio, a US clinical-stage specialist in genomic medicines.
GSK Names Julie Brown as First Female CFO
From next year, GSK’s top management will be led by a double female team, a pioneering move for the global pharmaceutical industry. The UK drugs giant this week announced the appointment of Julie Brown, the first woman to be its chief financial officer.
AstraZeneca CEO Goes “Off Message” on Covid Boosters
Days before the FDA approved the new bivalent Covid-19 vaccine boosters, Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, offered his own assessment of the need for such.
FDA Restricts Use of J&J Covid Vaccine
US health authorities are restricting the use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine somewhat belatedly, citing the rare blood clotting issues that have dogged this vaccine from the start, as well as the AstraZeneca shot.
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