AstraZeneca

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AstraZeneca PLC
Type Public (LSE: AZN
NYSE: AZN
and OMX: AZN)
Founded 6 April 1999 by merger
Headquarters Corporate HQ in London, England
R&D HQ in Södertälje, Sweden
NorthAmerica HQ in Wilmington, DE
Key people David Brennan CEO
Louis Schweitzer Chairman
Jonathan Symonds CFO
John Patterson Director, Drug Development
Jan Lundberg Exec. VP, Discovery Research
Industry Pharmaceutical
Products Pharmaceutical products for humans
Revenue $26,475 million (2006)
Operating income $8,216 million (2006)
Net income $6,063 million (2006)
Employees 66,600 (2006)
Slogan Life inspiring ideas.
Website www.astrazeneca.com

AstraZeneca PLC[1] (LSE: AZN, NYSE: AZN), is a large Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company formed on 6 April 1999 by the merger of Swedish Astra AB and British Zeneca Group. AstraZeneca develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals to treat disorders in the gastrointestinal, cardiac and vascular, neurological and psychiatric, infection, respiratory, pathological inflammation and oncology areas.

The corporate headquarters are in London, UK, the research and development (R&D) headquarters are in Södertälje, Sweden. Major R&D centres are located on three continents in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, and India.

The current chief executive of AstraZeneca is David Brennan.[2] He replaced Sir Tom McKillop on January 1, 2006.

Contents

[edit] Corporate structure

Current members of the board of directors of AstraZeneca are: Peter Bonfield, David Brennan, John Buchanan, Jane E. Henney, Michele Hooper, Joe Jimenez, Håkan Mogren, Erna Möller, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, John Varley, John Patterson, Louis Schweitzer, Jonathan Symonds, and Marcus Wallenberg.

[edit] Merger and acquisition activity

AstraZeneca has, following a collaborative relationship begun in 2004,[1] commenced the acquisition of Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT).[2] The company is currently in the final stages of exercising compulsory acquisition options against outstanding CAT shares.[3]

[edit] Collaborations and alliances

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb a world wide collaboration to develop and commercialize two investigational drugs (Saxagliptin and Dapagliflozin) beginning from 2007. [4]
  • Abbott Laboratories in relation to Crestor® and TriCor®, commencing in 2006 and extending to at least 2009.[5]
  • Astex. Announced 2005. For discovery, development and commercialisation of novel small molecule inhibitors of Protein Kinase B for use as anti-cancer agents.[6]
  • Avanir. Announced 2005. For research and licensing in the area of Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT) enhancing compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.[7]
  • Diamond Member of the Pennsylvania Bio commerce organization.[8]
  • Schering AG. Announced 2005. For research and licensing in the area of Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Agonists (SEGRAs).[9]

[edit] Diversity

In the US, AstraZeneca is one of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers in 2004 according to Working Mothers magazine.[3]

[edit] AstraZeneca and Breast Cancer

AstraZeneca is the major sponsor for Breast Cancer Awareness Month which focuses on early detection and treatment.[10] AstraZeneca is also a leading producer of breast cancer treatment drugs like Tamoxifen and Arimidex

[edit] Major products

AstraZeneca specialises in prescription medicines to fight disease in the several therapeutic areas. Year-on sales information can be found through AstraZeneca annual reports. The following is a list of key products as found on the AstraZeneca website, retrieved 2005-03-27.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Criticism

In February 2007, the Serious Fraud Office in the UK launched an investigation into allegations of AstraZeneca being involved in the discredited oil-for-food sanctions regime in Iraq. They are accused of paying bribes to Saddam Hussein's regime. [11]

As of 2000, Zeneca Group was the exclusive sponsor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In its own literature on the program, there has been no mention of how reduced exposure to carcinogens can help in cancer prevention.[12]

[edit] Controversy

[edit] Controversy over Nexium

Nexium, the successor to Prilosec, has according to some commentators "become a symbol of everything that is wrong with the pharmaceutical industry".[4] The issue was that of evergreening patents, which in effect would extend the market dominance of certain proprietary medicines. Esomeprazole is a single stereoisomer of omeprazole and based upon available evidence there seems to be little difference between the two in dose-related response. However, AZ as owners of the lucrative Losec patent sought to extend domination of the PPI market with Nexium, marketed as the successor to the original drug. Though identical in biological action, the new drug could be patented, thus achieving "evergreening" of the product and maintaining market share.

[edit] Controversy over Corporate Sexual Harrassment

Confronted by allegations in a May 13, 1996, Business Week cover story[5],[6] of widespread sexual harassment and other abuses at its Astra USA Inc. subsidiary, the company suspended three top executives and launched an internal probe.[7]

On June 26, the parent company announced that it had fired Astra USA President and CEO Lars Bildman without severance pay. Carl-Gustav Johansson, an Astra executive vice-president, says the investigation found that Bildman had "exhibited inappropriate behavior at company functions" and had "abused his power." He was also accused of misappropriation of funds, diverting them for personal expenses such as "lavish trips" and "extensive renovations for his home." Another suspended executive, George Roadman, was also fired, while a third, Edward Aarons, resigned. A senior executive in Sweden, Anders Lonner, was asked to resign for failing to report the misconduct to superiors, Astra says.

Astra USA agreed to pay $9.85 million to settle a suit brought by at least 79 women and one man against the company. The suit accused Astra's former president and other executives of pressuring female employees for sex and replacing older workers with younger, more attractive women. It was the biggest sexual harassment settlement ever obtained by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.[8]

Astra USA admitted that it allowed a hostile environment—including requests for sexual favors, replacing older female employees with younger women, and pressuring women into having sex. Bildman reportedly demanded that "eight hours of work be followed by eight hours of drinking and partying." In addition to firing Bildman and other top officials, Astra USA agreed to a sexual harassment policy and took action against 30 employees and Astra customers who had taken part in the harassment. Current USA CEO, Ivan Rowley apologized:

“ As a company, we are ashamed of the unacceptable behavior that took place. … To each person that has been harmed and who has suffered because of that behavior, I offer our apologies. ”

On February 4, 1998, Astra USA sued Bildman, seeking $15 million for defrauding the company. The sum included $2.3 million in company funds he allegedly used to fix up three of his homes, plus money the company paid as the result of the EEOC investigation. Astra's lawsuit alleged Bildman sexually harassed and intimidated employees, used company funds for yachts and prostitutes, destroyed documents and records, and concocted "tales of conspiracy involving ex-KGB agents and competitors … in a last-ditch effort to distract attention from the real wrongdoer, Bildman himself." Bildman had already plead guilty in U.S. District Court for failing to report more than $1 million in income on his tax returns; in addition, several female co-workers filed personal sexual-harassment lawsuits.[9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^  standard practice is that the name be pronounced as "Astra Zeneca" rather than "Astrazeneca".
  2. ^  AstraZeneca PLC (July 28, 2005). The Board of AstraZeneca PLC announces the appointment of David R Brennan as Chief Executive with effect from 1 January 2006 upon the retirement at that time of Sir Tom McKillop. Press release.
  3. ^  AstraZeneca Profile. Verified availability February 3, 2006.
  4. ^  Gladwell, Malcolm (October 25, 2004). "High Prices: How to think about prescription drugs". The New Yorker. Verified availability March 1, 2007.
  5. ^  Maremont, Mark and Sasseen, Jane (May 13, 1996). "Abuse of Power: Part I" Business Week, New York. Verified availability March 6, 2007.
  6. ^  Maremont, Mark and Sasseen, Jane (May 13, 1996). "Abuse of Power: Part II" Business Week, New York. Verified availability March 6, 2007.
  7. ^  The Associated Press, (February 6, 1998). "Drug Firm to Pay Record $9.85 million" San Francisco Chronicle. Verified availability March 6, 2007.
  8. ^  Maremont, Mark (July 8, 1996). "Day of Reckoning at Astra" Business Week, Westborough, Mass. Verified availability March 6, 2007.
  9. ^  Smith, Geoffrey (February 4, 1998). "Astra Hauls ex-CEO Lars Bildman into Court" Business Week, Boston. Verified availability March 6, 2007.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Press release, 22 November 2004
  2. ^ May 15, 2006 MarketWatch report
  3. ^ Press release, 7 July 2006
  4. ^ Press Release 11 January 2007
  5. ^ Press release, 5 July 2006
  6. ^ Press release, 27 July 2005
  7. ^ Press release, 11 July 2005
  8. ^ Pennsylvania Bio - Member Listings. Pennsylvania Bio web site. Retrieved on October 8, 2005.
  9. ^ Press release, 27 July 2005
  10. ^ Breast Cancer Primer on AZ Website
  11. ^ Guardian Unlimited February 14, 2007
  12. ^ Robbins, John, The Food Revolution p. 41-42

[edit] External links


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