AstraZeneca opens another medicines development centre

Bio-pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca officially opened its new Global Medicines Development (GMD) centre here today.

The unit is one of AstraZeneca's nine GMD centres that the company has around the world that transforms breakthrough molecules into medicines and monitors their use and safety, the company said in a press release.

With this opening, India would now play an even bigger role in AstraZeneca's global operations, the release said.

The GMD Bengaluru team would focus on supporting AstraZeneca's medicines which covers treatments across a range of therapies, including oncological, respiratory and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, it said.

GMD Bengaluru plays a key role supporting 51 of AstraZenecas mature brands which are used by patients around the world.

Last year, the team recruited scientific experts in the fields of regulatory science, clinical, and patient safety, and has grown from 30 to 70 people. The expansion would see a further increase to more than 100 specialists, the company said.

Klas Molin, Swedish Ambassador to India and Chief Guest for the inauguration, said, Further to the bilateral innovation partnership between India and Sweden, we are pleased to bring more Swedish innovation into the country."