AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2008

Our resources

AstraZeneca’s research effort spans a range of different disciplines and locations, but our scientific community shares a common goal: to deliver new and innovative medicines to patients as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible. They work together across national boundaries and sites to exchange ideas, promote best practice and maximise the scientific potential offered by our size and global reach.

We have a global R&D organisation, with around 12,000 people at 17 principal centres in eight countries. Our main small molecule facilities are in the UK (Alderley Park, Macclesfield and Charnwood); Sweden (Lund, MöIndal and Södertälje); and the US (Boston, Massachusetts and Wilmington, Delaware). Other sites which have a focus on discovery research are in Canada (Montreal, Quebec); France (Reims); India (Bangalore); China (Shanghai); and the UK (KuDOS and Arrow Therapeutics’ sites). We have a clinical development facility in Osaka, Japan. Our principal sites for biologics and vaccines are in the US (Gaithersburg, Maryland and Mountain View, California) and the UK (Cambridge). Substantially all of our properties are held freehold, free of material encumbrances and we believe such properties are fit for their purposes.

In 2008, we invested $5.2 billion in R&D (2007: $5.2 billion; 2006: $3.9 billion), $101 million on externalisation and approved $308 million of R&D capital investment to strengthen our resources in line with our strategic objectives. Major capital commitments made in previous years continue to progress as planned. In Boston (US), we have continued to enhance our infection research capability, and at Macclesfield (UK) ongoing work is focused on expanding and improving our Process R&D laboratories. New investments in 2008 included the replacement and consolidation of Pharmaceutical & Analytical R&D’s high potents manufacturing facilities at Charnwood (UK), and a major construction project to provide a new biologics services facility at Alderley Park (UK).

As part of our strategic expansion in important emerging markets, we continue to strengthen our research capabilities in Asia. Investment continued during 2008 at our ‘Innovation Centre China’ research facility in Shanghai, which opened in 2007. The Centre is focused on translational medicine in cancer, a major cause of death in China. In addition, Process R&D has further expanded its capability in Bangalore as it moves to optimise the capital investment at this site in recent years.

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