CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REVIEW
Strengthening the pipeline
I am pleased to report very significant progress during the year. The number of phase III projects in the pipeline has doubled to 10 from five and it was a record year for our phase I development pipeline with 24 new molecules entering first tests in man, compared with 12 in 2006. Importantly, we are also improving the quality of our early phase pipeline by researching the use of biomarkers, to give us an indication early in the discovery process of any toxicity or other signals that might impede progression of a molecule at a later stage.
It is just as important to gain access to leading science from outside AstraZeneca and our externalisation programme has delivered over 20 major deals in the last two years, as well as the acquisitions of Cambridge Antibody Technology and MedImmune.
We also continue to partner with external organisations that share our commitment to finding novel solutions for important areas of healthcare. During 2007 we formed a number of important new collaborations, including one with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to co-develop and co-commercialise saxagliptin and dapagliflozin, two products in development for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
