AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company. It was founded in 1999 through the merger of the Swedish Astra AB and the British Zeneca Group. The company's headquarters are located in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

History

Astra AB was founded in 1913 in Södertälje, Sweden, by 400 doctors and apothecaries. In 1993, the British chemicals company ICI demerged its pharmaceuticals businesses and its agrochemicals and specialties businesses, to form Zeneca Group.

In 1999, Astra AB and Zeneca Group announced their intention to merge, with the merger completed later that year, forming AstraZeneca plc. The company has made numerous acquisitions, including Cambridge Antibody Technology in 2006, MedImmune in 2007, and Definiens by MedImmune in 2014.

Products

AstraZeneca develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products. Some of its best-known products include the cancer drug Iressa, the asthma drug Pulmicort, the heart disease drug Crestor, and the gastrointestinal drug Nexium.

In 2020, AstraZeneca collaborated with the University of Oxford to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, known as AZD1222 or Vaxzevria.

Research and development

AstraZeneca's research and development efforts are focused on three main therapy areas: oncology, cardiovascular & metabolic disease and respiratory, inflammation & autoimmunity. The company is also active in neuroscience and infection.

Controversies

AstraZeneca has faced several controversies and legal actions over the years, related to drug safety, pricing and ethical practices.

See also

• Pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom
• List of pharmaceutical companies

References

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External links

• Official website

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• AstraZeneca logo
  AstraZeneca logo
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  AstraZeneca headquarters in Cambridge, UK
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  AstraZeneca entrance
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  AstraZeneca HQ under construction at sunset
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  AstraZeneca