Best Practices for Implementing an External Recruiting Partnership
Monclu nicklasson (1)
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The AstraZeneca Site in the Göteborg RegionThe AstraZeneca Site in the Göteborg Region
The Headquarter for Cardiovascular andThe Headquarter for Cardiovascular and
Gastrointestinal ResearchGastrointestinal Research
Martin NicklassonMartin Nicklasson
Executive Vice President, AstraZeneca plcExecutive Vice President, AstraZeneca plc
CEO & President, AstraZeneca ABCEO & President, AstraZeneca AB
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AstraZeneca in Sweden
Key figures
Sales in Sweden 2 billion SEK
– percent of Group sales 1.4%
– including parallel import 2.9 billion SEK
Market share 8.4%
Rank in Swedish pharmaceutical market No. 2
Swedish export 39 billion SEK
Share of Swedish net export 20%
Swedish licensing income 8 billion SEK
No. of Swedish shareholders 161,000
Share of Swedish ownership 22.7%(of total No. of shares)
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R&D units
Montreal Södertälje
Boston
CharnwoodAlderley
Lund
Mölndal
Osaka
Wilmington
Reims BrisbaneBangalore
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AZ Cardiovascular Drug Discovery
Research Areas at the Mölndal site
• Metabolism:
• Obesity
• Dyslipidemia
• Diabetes
• Atherosclerosis
• Thromboembolism
• Cardiology
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AZ Gastrointestinal Drug Discovery
Research Areas at the Mölndal site
• Gastroesophageal Erosive Reflux Disease
• Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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Key factors driving collaborations
• Access to broader basic knowledge as base for new
projects or specific competence for key technologies
• Create networks to increase the recruitment base
• Access to unique expertise that can’t or shouldn’t be
built in-house
• Facilitate establishment of high quality research
groups within areas of long term strategic
importance
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Elements of innovation in Drug Discovery
at AstraZeneca
1. Presence in a global network of research sites on major
continents within AstraZeneca
2. Effective in-house drug discovery and research informatics
processes (knowledge transfer)
3. Mechanisms for learning (adoptation of best practices)
4. Network of important academic and biotechnology partners
5. Effective management of research at several sites and
continents
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How important are the links to academic
research in the Gothenburg region?
• Current AstraZeneca collaboration value to
Gothenburg University amounts to a total of
7.34 m$
• The relations with Academia have in the past
contributed to significant discoveries (Losec®,
Nexium®, Seloken®)
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Areas of collaboration in drug develop-
ment – AstraZeneca and Gothenburg
University
• Epidemiology – ”get to know the disease”
• Mechanistical research – ”get to know how to
test Proof of Principle for a new substance”
• Large scale clinical trials – landmark studies
with potential to change routine therapy
• General consultancy – expert advice at any
stage of drug development
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Specific examples of collaboration
Epidemiology
• Hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart
failure
• Metabolic diseases
– Diabetes
– Obesity
• Acid secretion related to GI diseases
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Specific examples of collaboration
Mechanistical research
• GI laboratory
• Metabolic laboratory
• Cardiovascular clinical physiology laboratory
• Arrhythmia laboratory
Development of sophisticated techniques to
measure treatment effects
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Specific examples of collaboration
Large scale clinical trials
• Hypertension (e.g. HAPPHY, MAPHY, HOT)
• Heart failure (e.g. MERIT, CHARM)
• Myocardial infarction (GMT, MIAMI)
• Lipid disorders (CORONA)
• Thrombosis related disorders (METHRO)
• Acid secretion related GI disorders
University scientists in Scientific Steering Committees.
Results of studies which have (or will) shift treatment
guidelines for the disease.
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Industry – academia collaboration
• Prerequisites
– Scientists on both sides work together with Trust and
Respect
• This requires
– Same competence level
– Personal chemistry OK
– Genuine wish to collaborate
• N.B.
– Need to be in frontline of research on a worldwide basis
– Industry needs to seek collaboration with “the best” to be
competitive
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Key factors for AstraZeneca’s continued
presence in the region
AstraZeneca captures biomedical innovations globally through
its research presence at different continents.
Critical for the locations in Gothenburg is:
• The proximity to and the ability of the local universities to develop world class basic bio-
medical and chemical research
• The ability of the universities to educate high quality students
• To make clear and public statements in important ethical issues, such as:
- Positive attitude and support to animal experimentation
- Stem cell research
• Providing for excellent infrastructure facilities employment of scientists coming from
abroad:
- International schools of high quality
The focus of the region to applied/translational research is for AstraZeneca of lesser
importance
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Conclusions
• Academia and Biotech collaborations play and will play a very
important part in AstraZeneca
• Academia research will always be a major source of innovation for
pharma industry
• True partnership can only thrive when there is a natural interest
between scientists
Technology integration
New Drug Project generation
