AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2008

Supply capability

We have approximately 10,800 people at 26 manufacturing sites in 18 countries working on the supply of our products.

Our principal small molecule manufacturing facilities are in the UK (Avlon and Macclesfield); Sweden (Snäckviken and Gärtuna, Södertälje); the US (Newark, Delaware and Westborough, Massachusetts); Australia (North Ryde, New South Wales); France (Dunkirk and Reims); Italy (Caponago); Japan (Maihara); China (Wuxi) and Puerto Rico (Canovanas). Approximately 1,400 people work in active pharmaceutical ingredient supply and 8,800 in formulation and packaging. We operate a small number of sites for the manufacture of active ingredients in the UK, Sweden and France, complemented by efficient use of outsourcing. Our principal tablet and capsule formulation sites are in the UK, Sweden, Puerto Rico, France and the US, and we also have major formulation sites for the global supply of parenteral and/or inhalation products in Sweden, France, Italy and the UK.

Packaging is undertaken in a large number of locations, both at our own sites and at contractors’ facilities, which are situated close to our marketing companies to ensure rapid and responsive product supply.

Some 600 people are employed at our five principal biologics commercial manufacturing and distribution facilities in the US (Frederick, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Louisville, Kentucky); the UK (Speke); and The Netherlands (Nijmegen) with capabilities in process development, manufacturing and distribution of biologics, including worldwide supply of monoclonal antibodies and influenza vaccines. In addition to our own capabilities, Boehringer Ingelheim in Biberach, Germany serves as our manufacturing partner for certain monoclonal antibodies. Our biologics production capabilities are scalable, which enables efficient management of our combined small and large molecule pipeline. Substantially all of our properties are held freehold, free of material encumbrances and we believe such properties are fit for their purposes.

As part of our overall risk management, we carefully consider the timing of investment to ensure that secure supply chains are in place for our products. We have a programme in place to provide appropriate supply capabilities for our new products, including an assessment of new technology needs.

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