View source for Company:AstraZeneca

{{short description|British pharmaceutical company}}
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{{Infobox company
| name = AstraZeneca plc
| logo = AstraZeneca.svg
| image = AstraZeneca HQ in Cambridge UK.jpg
| image_caption = Corporate HQ in Cambridge, England
| type = [[Company:Public limited company|Public limited company]]
| traded_as = {{unbulleted list|{{lse|AZN}}|FTSE 100 component|{{nowrap|{{OMX|SSE3524|AZN}}}}|OMX Stockholm 30 component|{{Nasdaq|AZN}} (ADR)|Nasdaq-100 component}}
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|GB0009895292}}
| predecessors = {{ubl|Astra AB|Zeneca Group plc}}
| founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|1999|4|6}}
| location = Cambridge, England, UK
| area_served = Global
| key_people = Leif Johansson<br />([[Social:Chairman|Chairman]])<br />Sir Pascal Soriot<br />([[Company:CEO|CEO]])
| products = Pharmaceutical products
| industry = [[Medicine:Pharmaceutical industry|Pharmaceutical]]<br />[[Engineering:Biotechnology|Biotechnology]]
| revenue = {{increase}} {{wipe|United States dollar}}44.351&nbsp;billion (2022)<ref name="results">{{cite web |title=Annual Results 2022 |url=https://www.astrazeneca.com/content/dam/az/PDF/2022/fy/Full-year-and-Q4-2022-results-announcement.pdf |access-date=13 February 2022 |publisher=AstraZeneca}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} US$3.757&nbsp;billion (2022)<ref name=results />
| net_income = {{increase}} US$3.293&nbsp;billion (2022)<ref name=results />
| assets = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} US$96.483&nbsp;billion (2022)<ref name=results />}}
| equity = {{decrease}} US$37.058&nbsp;billion (2022)<ref name=results />
| num_employees = 83,500 (2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000901832/000110465923023818/azn-20221231x20f.htm|title=AstraZeneca plc 2022 Annual Report (Form 20-F)|publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|date=21 February 2023}}</ref>
| divisions = 
| parent = 
| subsid = {{unbulleted list|[[Company:Alexion Pharmaceuticals|Alexion Pharmaceuticals]]|[[Company:MedImmune|MedImmune]]|Evinova}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.astrazeneca.com}}
}}

'''AstraZeneca plc''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|s|t|r|ə|ˈ|z|ɛ|n|ə|k|ə}}) is an Anglo-Swedish multinational [[Medicine:Pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceutical]] and [[Engineering:Biotechnology|biotechnology]] company<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca > GC Powerlist: Sweden Teams 2019 |url=https://www.legal500.com/gc-powerlist/sweden-teams-19/astrazeneca-3/ |access-date=2020-12-30 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hollingsworth |first1=Julia |last2=Renton |first2=Adam |last3=Macaya |first3=Melissa |last4=Hayes |first4=Mike |date=2020-12-30 |title=UK "will be able to get out of this by the spring", minister says after regulator approves AstraZeneca vaccine |url=https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-12-30-20/h_34768b64123b61496556589aa542388f |access-date=2020-12-30 |website=CNN|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=biopharma-reporter.com |title=AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine gets the green light in the UK |url=https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2020/12/30/AstraZeneca-COVID-19-vaccine-authorized-in-UK |access-date=2020-12-30 |website=biopharma-reporter.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> with its headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, England.<ref>{{cite web |title=Registered office and corporate headquarters |url=https://www.astrazeneca.com/investor-relations/annual-reports/annual-report-2016/contact-information.html |access-date=27 February 2020 |publisher=AstraZeneca}}</ref> It has a portfolio of products for major diseases in areas including [[Medicine:Oncology|oncology]], [[Biology:Circulatory system|cardiovascular]], [[Medicine:Gastroenterology|gastrointestinal]], [[Medicine:Infectious disease|infection]],  [[Biology:Neuroscience|neuroscience]], respiratory, and [[Medicine:Inflammation|inflammation]]. It has been involved in developing the [[Medicine:Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine|Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-09-18 |title=A history of AstraZeneca |url=https://pharmaphorum.com/views-analysis-sales-marketing/a_history_of-_astrazeneca/ |access-date=2021-03-31 |website=pharmaphorum.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The company was founded in 1999 through the merger of the Swedish Astra AB and the British Zeneca Group<ref>{{cite news |date=20 July 2009 |title=Global 500 – Pharmaceuticals |work=Fortune|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2009/industries/21/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823093009/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2009/industries/21/index.html |archive-date=23 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Key facts |url=http://www.astrazeneca.com/about-us/key-facts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908083639/http://www.astrazeneca.com/about-us/key-facts/ |archive-date=8 September 2010 |access-date=1 September 2010 |publisher=AstraZeneca}}</ref> (itself formed by the demerger of the pharmaceutical operations of Imperial Chemical Industries in 1993). Since the merger it has been among the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and has made numerous corporate acquisitions, including [[Company:Cambridge Antibody Technology|Cambridge Antibody Technology]] (in 2006), [[Company:MedImmune|MedImmune]] (in 2007), Spirogen (in 2013) and Definiens (by MedImmune in 2014). It has its [[Research and development|research and development]] concentrated in three strategic centres: Cambridge, England; Gothenburg, Sweden and Gaithersburg in Maryland, U.S.<ref name="Fierce2013reorg" />

AstraZeneca traces its earliest corporate history to 1913, when Astra AB was formed by a large group of doctors and apothecaries in Södertälje. Throughout the twentieth century, it grew into the largest pharmaceutical company in Sweden. Its British counterpart, Zeneca PLC was formed in 1993 when ICI divested its pharmaceuticals businesses; Astra AB and Zeneca PLC merged six years later, with the chosen headquarters in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |title=A history of AstraZeneca |url=https://pharmaphorum.com/views-analysis-sales-marketing/a_history_of-_astrazeneca |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=pharmaphorum |language=en}}</ref>

AstraZeneca's primary listing is on the [[Company:London Stock Exchange|London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index; it also has a secondary listing on the Nasdaq Stockholm. AstraZeneca has one of the highest market capitalisations of pharmaceutical companies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Largest pharma companies by market cap |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/pharmaceuticals/largest-pharmaceutical-companies-by-market-cap/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=companiesmarketcap.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

==History==
Astra AB was founded in 1913 in Södertälje, Sweden, by 400 doctors and apothecaries.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://pubs.acs.org/journals/pharmcent/index.html |title=The Pharmaceutical Century: Ten Decades of Drug Discovery |date=17 November 2000 |publisher=ACS Publications |location=Washington, D.C. |chapter=Organizational Portraits – AstraZeneca |access-date=14 July 2008 |chapter-url=http://pubs.acs.org/journals/pharmcent/company3.html}}</ref><!--surely something notable happened between 1948 and 1994!--> In 1993 the British chemicals company ICI (established from four British chemical companies) demerged its pharmaceuticals businesses and its agrochemicals and specialities businesses, to form Zeneca Group PLC.<ref name="history">{{cite web |title=Our History - AstraZeneca Careers |url=http://www.astrazenecacareers.com/content/aboutAZ/ourCompany/ourHistory/astrazeneca-our-history-corporate-evolution.asp |website=AstraZeneca Careers}}</ref> Finally, in 1999 Astra and Zeneca Group merged to form AstraZeneca plc, with its headquarters in London.<ref name="history" /> In 1999, AstraZeneca identified a new location for the company's US base, the "Fairfax-plus" site in North Wilmington, Delaware.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/AstraZeneca+Selects+Wilmington,+Del.+for+New+US+Headquarters.-a054504139|title=AstraZeneca Selects Wilmington, Del. for New US Headquarters|access-date=3 August 2013|archive-date=1 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001220452/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/AstraZeneca+Selects+Wilmington,+Del.+for+New+US+Headquarters.-a054504139|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2000–06===
In 2002, its drug [[Chemistry:Gefitinib|Iressa]] (gefitinib) was approved in Japan as [[Medicine:Monotherapy|monotherapy]] for non-small cell lung cancer.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 September 2002 |title=AstraZeneca's Iressa FDA committee judgement expected tomorrow |url=http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?type=news&code=cotn%3AAZN.L&it=&articleid=4474187&action=article |access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> On 3 January 2004 Dr Robert Nolan, a former director of AstraZeneca, formed the management team of ZI Medical.<ref>{{cite web |title=ZI is dripping with promise |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111836523.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611131904/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111836523.html |archive-date=2014-06-11}}</ref>

In 2005, the company acquired KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, a UK biotech company, for £120 million.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2928954/AstraZeneca-buys-biotech-company-for-120m.html AstraZeneca buys biotech company for £120m] ''The Telegraph'', 23 December 2005</ref> and entered into an anti-cancer collaboration agreement with Astex<ref>[http://www.elsevierbi.com/deals/200520449 AstraZeneca and Astex ally for anticancer agents] Business Intelligence, 1 July 2005</ref> It also announced that it had become a Diamond Member of the Pennsylvania Bio commerce organisation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania Bio – Member Listings |url=http://www.pennsylvaniabio.org/membership/listings.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214215037/http://www.pennsylvaniabio.org/membership/listings.asp |archive-date=14 December 2005 |access-date=8 October 2005 |website=Pennsylvania Bio web site}}</ref>

In 2006, following a collaborative relationship begun in 2004, AstraZeneca acquired [[Company:Cambridge Antibody Technology|Cambridge Antibody Technology]] for £702 million.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4771615.stm AstraZeneca to buy CAT for £702m] BBC News, 15 May 2006</ref>

===2007–12: The patent cliff and subsequent acquisitions===

In February 2007, AstraZeneca agreed to buy Arrow Therapeutics, a company focused on the discovery and development of anti-viral therapies, for US$150{{nbsp}}million.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120708051536/http://articles.marketwatch.com/2007-02-01/news/30828561_1_astrazeneca-anglo-swedish-therapies AstraZeneca agrees to buy Arrow Therapeutics for US$150M] MarketWatch, 1 February 2007</ref> AstraZeneca's pipeline, and "patent cliff", was the subject of much speculation in April 2007 leading to pipeline-boosting collaboration and acquisition activities.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/pharmaceuticalsandchemicals/9218420/AstraZeneca-seeks-a-remedy-for-its-patent-pain.html AstraZeneca seeks a remedy for its patent pain] The Telegraph, 21 April 2012</ref> A few days later AstraZeneca acquired US company [[Company:MedImmune|MedImmune]] for about US$15.2&nbsp;billion to gain flu vaccines and an anti-viral treatment for infants;<ref>{{cite news |title=AstraZeneca to pay $15.2B to purchase rival MedImmune; Deal sees London-based drugmaker take on debt for the first time in order to fill product line |work={{wipe|Bloomberg News}}|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/}}</ref> AstraZeneca subsequently consolidated all of its biologics operations into a dedicated biologics division called MedImmune.<ref name="astrazeneca.com">[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/business/24drug-web.html AstraZeneca Buys MedImmune for US$ 15.6 Billion] ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'', 24 April 2007</ref>

In 2010, AstraZeneca acquired Novexel Corp, an antibiotics discovery company formed in 2004 as a spin-off of the Sanofi-Aventis anti-infectives division. Astra acquired the experimental antibiotic NXL-104 (CEF104) (CAZ-AVI) through this acquisition.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 December 2009 |title=AstraZeneca To Acquire Infection Research Company Novexel And Expand Collaboration With Forest Laboratories |url=http://www.astrazeneca.com/Media/Press-releases/Article/20091223--AstraZeneca-To-Acquire-Infection-Research-Company-Nov |access-date=20 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Novexel to be Acquired by AstraZeneca |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novexel-to-be-acquired-by-astrazeneca-79982037.html |access-date=20 February 2015}}</ref>

In 2011, AstraZeneca acquired Guangdong BeiKang Pharmaceutical Company, a Chinese generics business.<ref>[http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/astrazeneca_acquisition_generics_firm_china_Guangdong_BeiKang_352964 AstraZeneca to buy Chinese generics firm] Healthcare News, 8 December 2011</ref>

In February 2012, AstraZeneca and Amgen announced a collaboration on treatments for inflammatory diseases.<ref>[http://www.medcitynews.com/2012/04/astra-zeneca-and-amgen-collaborate-on-treatments-for-inflammatory-diseases/ AstraZeneca and Amgen collaborate on treatments for inflammatory diseases] Medcity News, 4 February 2012</ref> Then in April 2012, AstraZeneca acquired Ardea Biosciences, another biotechnology company, for $1.26&nbsp;billion.<ref>[https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/astrazeneca-to-buy-ardea-for-1-26-billion/ AstraZeneca Reaches $1.26 Billion Deal for Ardea Biosciences] ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'', 23 April 2012</ref> In June 2012, AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb announced a two-stage deal for the joint acquisition of the biotechnology company Amylin Pharmaceuticals.<ref>{{cite news |last=Peacock |first=Louisa |date=30 June 2012 |title=AstraZeneca to pay £2.2bn towards 'joint venture' diabetes deal |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/pharmaceuticalsandchemicals/9366647/AstraZeneca-to-pay-2.2bn-towards-joint-venture-diabetes-deal.html |url-status=dead |access-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804165139/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/pharmaceuticalsandchemicals/9366647/AstraZeneca-to-pay-2.2bn-towards-joint-venture-diabetes-deal.html |archive-date=4 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="reut30612">{{cite news |date=30 June 2012 |title=Bristol-Myers to buy Amylin for about US$5.3 billion |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amylin-bristolmyerssquibb-idUSBRE85T01O20120630 |access-date=1 July 2012}}</ref> It was agreed that Bristol Myers Squibb would acquire Amylin for $5.3&nbsp;billion in cash and the assumption of $1.7&nbsp;billion in debt, with AstraZeneca then paying $3.4&nbsp;billion in cash to Bristol Myers Squibb, and Amylin being folded into an existing diabetes joint venture between AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb.<ref name=reut30612/>

===2013 restructuring and beyond===

====2013====
In March 2013 AstraZeneca announced plans for a major corporate restructuring, including the closure of its research and development activities at Alderley Park in Cheshire and Loughborough in the UK and at Lund in Sweden, investment of $500{{nbsp}}million in the construction of a new research and development facility in Cambridge and the concentration of R&D in three locations: Cambridge, Gaithersburg, Maryland (location of MedImmune, where it will work on biotech drugs), and Gothenburg in Sweden, for research on traditional chemical drugs.<ref name="Fierce2013reorg">{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=John |date=18 March 2013 |title=UPDATED: AstraZeneca to ax 1,600, relocate thousands in global R&D reshuffle |work=fiercebiotech.com |publisher=FierceBiotech |url=http://www.fiercebiotech.com/node/124651}}</ref> AstraZeneca also announced that it would move its corporate headquarters from London to Cambridge in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 March 2013 |title=AstraZeneca to axe 1,600 jobs in overhaul of drug R&D |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-astrazeneca-rd-idUKBRE92H0I320130318 |access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=19 March 2013 |title=AstraZeneca cuts UK headcount and moves to Cambridge |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/astrazeneca-cuts-uk-headcount-and-moves-to-cambridge/2002642.article |magazine=Times Higher Education |access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> That announcement included the announcement that it would cut 1,600 jobs; three days later it announced it would cut an additional 2,300 jobs.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 March 2013 |title=AstraZeneca to cut 2,300 more jobs |work=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/03/21/astrazeneca-cuts/2005357/ |access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=AstraZeneca increase job cuts to 5,050 |publisher=HR Grapevine |url=http://www.hrgrapevine.com/markets/hr/article/2013-03-21-astrazeneca-increase-cuts-to-5-050 |access-date=29 October 2014}}</ref> It also announced that it would focus on three therapeutic areas: Respiratory Inflammation & Autoimmunity, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease, and Oncology.<ref>AstraZeneca Press Release.  21 March 2013 [http://www.astrazeneca.com/Media/Press-releases/Article/20130321--astrazeneca-outlines-strategy-return-to-growth-scientific-leadership AstraZeneca outlines strategy to return to growth and achieve scientific leadership]</ref> In October 2013, AstraZeneca announced it would acquire biotech oncology company Spirogen for around US$440 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandle |first=Paul |date=15 October 2013 |title=AstraZeneca buys oncology-focused Spirogen for up to $440 million |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astrazeneca-spirogen-idUSBRE99E03Y20131015}}</ref>

====2014====
On 19 May 2014 AstraZeneca rejected a "final offer" from [[Company:Pfizer|Pfizer]] of £55 per share, which valued the company at £69.4{{nbsp}}billion (US$117{{nbsp}}billion). The companies had been meeting since January 2014. If the takeover had proceeded, Pfizer would have become the world's biggest drug maker. The transaction would also have been the biggest foreign takeover of a British company. Many in Britain, including politicians and scientists, had opposed the deal.<ref name="PfizerBid">{{cite news |title=AstraZeneca rejects Pfizer 'final' takeover offer, triggers major drop in shares |publisher=London Mercury |url=http://www.londonmercury.com/index.php/sid/222128733/scat/0f440bf3fff89f01/ht/AstraZeneca-rejects-Pfizer-final-takeover-offer-triggers-major-drop-in-shares |url-status=dead |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520215930/http://www.londonmercury.com/index.php/sid/222128733/scat/0f440bf3fff89f01/ht/AstraZeneca-rejects-Pfizer-final-takeover-offer-triggers-major-drop-in-shares |archive-date=20 May 2014}}</ref> In July 2014 the company entered into a deal with Almirall to acquire its subsidiary Almirall Sofotec and its lung treatments including the COPD drug, Eklira. The US$2.1 billion deal included an allocation of US$1.2 billion for development in the respiratory franchise, one of AstraZeneca's three target therapeutic areas announced the year before. In August 2014 the company announced it had entered into a three-year collaboration with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma on [[Medicine:Diabetic nephropathy|diabetic nephropathy]].<ref name="AstraZenecaMTPC">{{cite news |date=20 August 2014 |title=AstraZeneca and MTPC come together for research on diabetic nephropathy drugs |publisher=Business Sun |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-mtpc-partner-to-validate-diabetic-nephropathy-targets/81250258/?kwrd=Medicines%20Company |access-date=21 August 2014}}</ref> In September 2014 the company would join forces with [[Company:Eli Lilly and Company|Eli Lilly]] in developing and commercialising its candidate [[Biology:BACE inhibitor|BACE inhibitor]] – AZD3292 – used for the treatment of [[Medicine:Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer's disease]]. The deal could yield up to US$500 million for the company.<ref>{{cite web |title=GEN - News Highlights:Lilly Joins AstraZeneca to Co-Develop BACE Inhibitor for Alzheimer's |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/lilly-joins-astrazeneca-to-co-develop-bace-inhibitor-for-alzheimer-s/81250353/ |website=GEN}}</ref> In November 2014 the company's biologics R&D operation, MedImmune, agreed to acquire Definiens for more than US$150 million. The company also began a Phase I/II trial collaboration with [[Company:Pharmacyclics|Pharmacyclics]] and Janssen Biotech investigating combination treatments.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 November 2014 |title=GEN - News Highlights:AstraZeneca Bolsters Oncology Focus with Definiens Purchase, Trial Collaboration |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-bolsters-oncology-focus-with-definiens-purchase-trial-collaboration/81250554/ |website=GEN}}</ref> Also in November of the same year, the company agreed to sell its lipodystrophy treatment business to Aegerion Pharmaceuticals for more than US$325 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 November 2014 |title=GEN - News Highlights:Aegerion Snaps Up Rare Disease Drug from AstraZeneca for US$325M+ |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/aegerion-snaps-up-rare-disease-drug-from-astrazeneca-for-325m/81250562/?kwrd=astrazeneca |website=GEN}}</ref> In December, the company received accelerated [[Organization:Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] approval for [[Chemistry:Olaparib|Olaparib]] in the treatment of women with advanced [[Medicine:Ovarian cancer|ovarian cancer]] who have a [[Medicine:BRCA mutation|BRCA]] genetic mutation. A major criterion governing the drugs approval was, on average, its ability to shrink tumours in patients for 7.9 months.<ref>{{cite news |last=Anna Edney |date=19 December 2014 |title=AstraZeneca Wins Approval for Ovarian-Cancer Drug It Had Dropped |work={{wipe|Bloomberg News}} |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-19/astrazeneca-wins-approval-for-ovarian-cancer-drug-it-had-dropped.html}}</ref>

====2015====
In February 2015, the company announced it would acquire the US and Canadian rights to Actavis's branded respiratory drug business for an initial sum of US$600 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 February 2015 |title=GEN - News Highlights:AstraZeneca Buys U.S., Canadian Rights to Actavis Respiratory Drugs for $600M+ |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-buys-u-s-canadian-rights-to-actavis-respiratory-drugs-for-600m/81250897/ |website=GEN}}</ref> Later in the same month the company announced it would partner with Orca Pharmaceuticals to develop [[Chemistry:Retinoic acid|retinoic acid]]-related orphan nuclear receptor gamma inhibitors for use in the treatment of a number of autoimmune diseases, which could generate up to US$122.5 million for Orca.<ref>{{cite web |date=25 February 2015 |title=GEN - News Highlights:AstraZeneca, Orca Launch Up-to-$122.5M Autoimmune Collaboration |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-orca-launch-up-to-122-5m-autoimmune-collaboration/81250962/ |website=GEN}}</ref> The company also announced its plan to spend US$40 million creating a new subsidiary focused on small molecule anti-infectives – primarily in the research of the gyrase inhibitor, AZD0914, which is currently in Phase II for the treatment of [[Medicine:Gonorrhea|gonorrhea]].<ref>{{cite web |title=GEN - News Highlights:AstraZeneca Launches $40M Early-Stage Anti-Infectives R& Unit |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-launches-40m-early-stage-anti-infectives-r-d-unit/81250974/ |website=GEN}}</ref> The company underwrote twenty out of thirty-two seats of a new Cambridge– Gothenburg service by Sun-Air of Scandinavia.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sweeney |first=Kate |date=16 February 2015 |title=AstraZeneca underwrites Cambridge-Sweden flights {{!}} Business Weekly {{!}} Technology News {{!}} Business news {{!}} Cambridge and the East of England |language=en |work=Business Weekly (UK) |url=http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/travel-and-transport/astrazeneca-underwrites-cambridge-sweden-flights}}</ref>

In mid-March the company announced it would co-commercialise [[Chemistry:Naloxegol|naloxegol]] along with Daiichi Sankyo in a deal worth up to US$825 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 March 2015 |title=GEN - News Highlights:For Up-to-$825M, Daiichi Sankyo Joins AstraZeneca in Co-Marketing Movantik |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/for-up-to-825m-daiichi-sankyo-joins-astrazeneca-in-co-marketing-movantik/81251048/ |website=GEN}}</ref> Towards the end of April the company announced a number of collaborations worth an estimated US$1.8 billion; first, to develop and commercialise MEDI4736, with [[Company:Celgene|Celgene]], for use against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and [[Medicine:Multiple myeloma|multiple myeloma]] with AstraZeneca receiving US$450 million. The second of two deals is an agreement to study a combination treatment of MEDI4736 and Innate Pharma's Phase II anti-NKG2A antibody IPH2201 for up to US$1.275 billion. The company's MedImmune arm also launched collaborative clinical trials with Juno Therapeutics, investigating combination treatments for cancer.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 April 2015 |title=GEN - News Highlights:AstraZeneca Inks $1.8B in Immuno-Oncology Deals as Q1 Profit Dips |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-inks-1-8b-in-immuno-oncology-deals-as-q1-profit-dips/81251193/ |website=GEN}}</ref> The trials will assess combinations of MEDI4736 and one of Juno Therapeutics' CD19 directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell candidates.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 April 2015 |title=GEN - News Highlights:MedImmune, Juno Team Up to Study Cancer Immunotherapy Combo |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/medimmune-juno-team-up-to-study-cancer-immunotherapy-combo/81251186/ |website=GEN}}</ref> In late June the company announced it has entered into a partnership agreement with Eolas Therapeutics on the Eolas Orexin-1 Receptor Antagonist (EORA) program for smoking cessation and other treatments.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 June 2015 |title=Eolas and AstraZeneca Agree to Develop Orexin-1 Receptor Antagonist for Multiple Indications |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/eolas-and-astrazeneca-agree-to-develop-orexin-1-receptor-antagonist-for-multiple-indications/81251454/ |website=GEN}}</ref> In July the company announced it would sell off its rights to Entocort ([[Biology:Budesonide|budesonide]]) to Tillotts Pharma for US$215 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 July 2015 |title=AstraZeneca Selling Ex-U.S. Entocort Rights to Tillotts Pharma |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-selling-ex-u-s-entocort-rights-to-tillotts-pharma/81251488/ |website=GEN}}</ref> In July 2015, [[Company:Genzyme|Genzyme]] announced it would acquire the rare cancer drug Caprelsa ([[Chemistry:Vandetanib|vandetanib]]) from AstraZeneca for up to US$300 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 July 2015 |title=Genzyme to Buy Caprelsa from AstraZeneca for Up to $300M |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/genzyme-to-buy-caprelsa-from-astrazeneca-for-up-to-300m/81251554/ |website=GEN}}</ref> In August, the company announced it had acquired the global rights to develop and commercialise Heptares Therapeutics' drug candidate HTL-1071, which focuses on blocking the [[Chemistry:Adenosine|adenosine]] A2A receptor, in a deal worth up to US$510 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 August 2015 |title=AstraZeneca to Develop Heptares Cancer Candidate in $510M+ Collaboration |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-to-develop-heptares-cancer-candidate-in-510m-collaboration/81251596/ |website=GEN}}</ref> In the same month the company's MedImmune subsidiary acquired exclusive rights to Inovio Pharmaceuticals' INO-3112 immunotherapy, currently in Phase I/II, under an agreement which could net more than US$727.5 million for Inovio. INO-3112 targets Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 August 2015 |title=MedImmune Licenses Inovio Cancer Vaccine for Up to $727.5M - GEN News Highlights - GEN |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/medimmune-licenses-inovio-cancer-vaccine-for-up-to-727-5m/81251607/ |website=GEN}}</ref> In September, Valeant licensed [[Chemistry:Brodalumab|Brodalumab]] from the company for up to US$445 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 2015 |title=Valeant Licenses Brodalumab from AstraZeneca for Up to $445M |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/valeant-licenses-brodalumab-from-astrazeneca-for-up-to-445m/81251687/ |website=GEN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=AstraZeneca auctions off troubled psoriasis drug to Valeant in $445M deal |url=http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/astrazeneca-auctions-troubled-psoriasis-drug-valeant-445m/2015-09-01 |newspaper=Fierce Biotech|date=September 2015 }}</ref> On 6 November it was reported that AstraZeneca had acquired ZS Pharma for US$2.7 billion.<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca acquires ZS Pharma in $2.7 billion deal |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11541386 |website=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref> In December the company announced its intention to acquire the respiratory portfolio of Takeda Pharmaceutical – namely Alvesco and Omnaris – for US$575 million<ref>{{cite web |date=16 December 2015 |title=Takeda to Sell Its Respiratory Portfolio to AstraZeneca |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/takeda-to-sell-its-respiratory-portfolio-to-astrazeneca/81252104/ |access-date=19 March 2016 |website=GEN}}</ref> A day later, the company announced it had taken a 55% majority stake in Acerta for US$4 billion. As part of the transaction the company will gain commercial rights to Acerta's irreversible oral [[Biology:Bruton's tyrosine kinase|Bruton's tyrosine kinase]] inhibitor, [[Biology:Acalabrutinib|acalabrutinib]] (ACP-196), which is currently in Phase III development for B-cell blood cancers and in Phase I or II clinical trials in solid tumours.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 December 2015 |title=AstraZeneca Takes Majority Stake in Acerta for $4B |url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-takes-majority-stake-in-acerta-for-4b/81252112/ |access-date=19 March 2016 |website=GEN}}</ref> In 2015, it was the eighth-largest drug company in the world based on sales revenue.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Top 100 Pharmaceutical Companies |publisher=BioPortfolio |url=http://www.bioportfolio.com/top-pharma-companies |access-date=30 August 2016}}</ref>

====2017====
In July 2017, the company's CEO Pascal Soriot said that Brexit would not affect its commitment to its current plans in the United Kingdom. However, it had slowed decision making for new investment projects waiting for a post-Brexit regulatory regime to settle down.<ref name="brexit">{{cite web |last=Neville |first=Sarah |date=29 July 2017 |title=AstraZeneca chief demands clarity on post-Brexit landscape |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bc38b9f8-73b0-11e7-93ff-99f383b09ff9 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/bc38b9f8-73b0-11e7-93ff-99f383b09ff9 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=[[Social:Financial Times|Financial Times]]}}</ref>

In September 2017, the company's chairman Leif Johansson planned in taking the "first steps" in moving its research and manufacturing operations away from the United Kingdom, if there is a hard Brexit.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 2017 |title=AstraZeneca has started preparations for hard Brexit, including operations move from UK |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20170928/astrazeneca-has-started-preparing-for-hard-brexit-including-operations-move-from-uk |access-date=29 September 2017 |newspaper=The Local Sweden}}</ref>

In 2017, it was the eleventh largest drug company in the world based on sales and ranked seventh based on R&D investment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Christel |first=Michael |date=28 June 2017 |title=Pharm Exec's Top 50 Companies 2017 |work=Pharmaceutical Executive, Volume 37, Issue 6 |publisher=Pharm Exec |url=http://www.pharmexec.com/pharm-execs-top-50-companies-2017 |access-date=14 September 2017}}</ref>

In January EVP Pam Cheng stated that AstraZeneca has ignited startup of duplicate QA testing facility in Sweden and has initiated hiring in Sweden.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 January 2018 |title=Brexit ger fler Astra Zenecajobb i Sverige |work=Dagens Nyheter |url=https://www.dn.se/ekonomi/brexit-ger-fler-astra-zenecajobb-i-sverige/ |access-date=31 January 2018}}</ref>

====2018====
In February 2018, AstraZeneca announced it was spinning off six early-stage experimental drugs into a new biotechnology company, known as Viela Bio, valued at US$250 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hirschler |first=Ben |date=28 February 2018 |title=AstraZeneca spins off autoimmune drugs into new biotech company |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astrazeneca-biotech/astrazeneca-spins-off-autoimmune-drugs-into-new-biotech-company-idUSKCN1GC0OL |access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref>

On 6 December 2018, AstraZeneca purchased nearly 8% of the American pharmaceutical business, [[Company:Moderna|Moderna]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SEC Filings |url=https://investors.modernatx.com/financials/sec-filings/default.aspx |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=investors.modernatx.com}}</ref>

====2019====
In March 2019, AstraZeneca announced it will pay up to US$6.9 billion to work with Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd on an experimental treatment for breast cancer. AstraZeneca plans to use some of the proceeds of a US$3.5 billion share issue to fund the deal. The deal on the drug known as [[Chemistry:Trastuzumab deruxtecan|trastuzumab deruxtecan]] sent shares in Japan's Daiichi soaring 16%.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burger |first1=Ludwig |last2=Nussey |first2=Sam |last3=Umekawa |first3=Takashi |date=2019-03-29 |title=AstraZeneca pays up to $6.9 billion in Daiichi Sankyo cancer deal |language=en |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astrazeneca-daiichi-sankyo-cancer-dru-idUSKCN1RA04P |access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref>

In September 2019, the company announced that it would cease drug production at its German headquarters in Wedel, leading to the loss of 175 jobs by the end of 2021.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 October 2019 |title=AstraZeneca Wedel |work=Abendblatt |url=https://www.abendblatt.de/region/article227141383/Pharma-Konzern-Astra-Zeneca-schliesst-Produktion-in-Wedel.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=21 September 2019 |title=AstraZeneca schließt die Produktion in Wedel - Hamburger Abendblatt |url=https://www.abendblatt.de/region/pinneberg/article227151805/AstraZeneca-schliesst-die-Produktion-in-Wedel.html |access-date=2020-04-28 |publisher=Abendblatt.de |language=de}}</ref>

In October 2019, AstraZeneca announced it would sell the global commercial rights for its drug to treat acid reflux to German pharmaceutical company Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH for as much as US$276 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=2019-10-01 |title=AstraZeneca sells acid reflux drug rights to Germany's Cheplapharm |language=en |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astrazeneca-divestiture-idUSKBN1WG32A |access-date=2019-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McKee |first=Selina |date=2018-07-24 |title=AstraZeneca sells Atacand rights to Cheplapharm |url=http://www.pharmatimes.com/news/astrazeneca_sells_atacand_rights_to_cheplapharm_1245495 |access-date=2019-10-08 |website=PharmaTimes |language=en}}</ref>

====2020====
In February 2020, AstraZeneca agreed to sublicense its global rights (except Europe, Canada and Israel) to the drug [[Chemistry:Naloxegol|Movantik]], to Redhill Biopharma.<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca divests global rights to Movantik |url=https://www.worldpharmanews.com/astrazeneca/5147-astrazeneca-divests-global-rights-to-movantik |access-date=2020-02-28 |website=worldpharmanews.com}}</ref>

In June 2020, AstraZeneca made a preliminary approach to [[Company:Gilead Sciences|Gilead Sciences]] about a potential merger, worth almost US$240 billion.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nair |first=Ed Hammond, Aaron Kirchfeld and Dinesh |date=2020-06-07 |title=A new pharma king? AstraZeneca approaches Gilead about potential merger: report |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/a-new-pharma-king-astrazeneca-approaches-gilead-about-potential-merger-report-20200608-p550d0.html |access-date=2020-06-08 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=7 June 2020 |title=AstraZeneca Approaches Gilead About Potential Merger |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-07/astrazeneca-is-said-to-approach-gilead-about-potential-merger |access-date=2020-06-08 |website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref> However, these plans were subsequently dropped because it would have distracted the company from its own pipeline and ongoing [[Medicine:COVID-19|COVID-19]] vaccine efforts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ralph |first=Alex |title=Astrazeneca 'drops interest' in Gilead Sciences |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/astrazeneca-drops-interest-in-gilead-sciences-9rszkdqlr |access-date=2020-06-10 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

In July 2020, the business entered into its second collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, centred around the development of DS-1062, an antibody drug conjugate. The deal could potentially be worth up to US$6 billion for Daiichi.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aripaka |first=Pushkala |date=27 July 2020 |title=AstraZeneca bets up to $6 billion on new Daiichi cancer drug |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-astrazeneca-cancer-daiichi-sankyo-idUKKCN24S0HP |via=uk.reuters.com}}</ref>

In September 2020, AstraZeneca acquired the preclinical oral PCSK9 inhibitor program from Dogma Therapeutics.<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca acquires oral PCSK9 inhibitor programme from Dogma Therapeutics |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/astrazeneca-acquires-oral-pcsk9-inhibitor-programme-from-dogma-therapeutics-/ |website=BioSpace}}</ref>

On 27 December 2020, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said that they have “figured out the winning formula” with their two-dose system with the Oxford University’s [[Medicine:COVID-19 vaccine|COVID-19 vaccine]].<ref>{{cite web |date=27 December 2020 |title=Oxford vaccine researchers have found 'winning formula', AstraZeneca chief says |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/oxford-vaccine-coronavirus-variant-b1779212.html |access-date=27 December 2020 |website=The Independent}}</ref>

On 30 December 2020, the United Kingdom approved the emergency use of the [[Medicine:Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine|Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Is good news for India on the vaccine front here? |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/is-good-news-for-india-on-the-vaccine-front-here/700965 |access-date=2020-12-31 |website=www.timesnownews.com |date=30 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=30 December 2020 |title=Covid-19: Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine approved for use in UK |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55280671 |access-date=30 December 2020 |website=BBC News }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Das |first=Ruchika Chitravanshi & Sohini |date=2020-12-31 |title=India's Covid vaccine hope rolls over to 2021; panel to meet again on Jan 1 |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-s-covid-vaccine-hope-rolls-over-to-2021-panel-to-meet-again-on-jan-1-120123100045_1.html |access-date=2020-12-31}}</ref>

====2021====
In July 2021, AstraZeneca acquired [[Company:Alexion Pharmaceuticals|Alexion Pharmaceuticals]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last=Higgins-Dunn |first=Noah |date=July 21, 2021 |title=AstraZeneca closes mega $39B Alexion buyout despite antitrust fears, making a splash in rare diseases |work=FiercePharma |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/astrazeneca-closes-mega-39b-alexion-buyout-despite-antitrust-fears-making-a-splash-rare}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Acquisition of Alexion completed |date=July 21, 2021 |publisher=AstraZeneca |url=https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/acquisition-of-alexion-completed.html}}</ref> In October 2021, the company, through Alexion, acquired Caelum Biosciences and its monoclonal treatment (CAEL-101) for light chain (AL) [[Medicine:Amyloidosis|amyloidosis]] for up to $500 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shabong |first1=Yadarisa |last2=Ravikumar |first2=Sachin |date=29 September 2021 |title=AstraZeneca buys rare disease drugmaker Caelum in potential $500 mln deal |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/astrazeneca-buys-drugmaker-caelum-deal-worth-up-500-mln-2021-09-29/ |via=www.reuters.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca Buys Caelum BioSciences in $500 Million Deal |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/astrazeneca-exercises-option-to-buy-caelum-biosciences-in-500-million-deal/ |website=BioSpace}}</ref>

====2022====
In July, the company announced it would acquire TeneoTwo for up to $1.3 billion, increasing its blood cancer drug offering.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/astrazeneca-buy-oncology-firm-teneotwo-up-127-bln-2022-07-05/|title=AstraZeneca to buy biotech firm TeneoTwo for up to $1.27 billion|newspaper={{wipe|Reuters}}|date=5 July 2022|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref> In October 2022 it was announced that the company would acquire LogicBio Therapeutics, which was active in clinical-stage [[Biology:Genomics|genomic medicine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepharmaletter.com/article/astrazeneca-to-pay-record-660-premium-for-gene-editing-company |title=AstraZeneca to pay record 660% premium for gene editing company|date=3 October 2022|via=www.thepharmaletter.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/alexion-astrazeneca-rare-disease-to-acquire-logicbio-therapeutics-to-accelerate-growth-in-genomic-medicine/?s=89  |title=Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease to Acquire LogicBio Therapeutics to Accelerate Growth in Genomic Medicine|date=3 October 2022|via=www.biospace.com}}</ref>

In November 2022, it was announced AstraZeneca had acquired the [[Place:Amsterdam|Amsterdam]]-headquartered clinical-stage biotechnology company, Neogene Therapeutics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2022/11/29/AstraZeneca-is-to-acquire-Neogene-Therapeutics|title=AstraZeneca is to acquire Neogene Therapeutics|newspaper=Biopharma Reporter|date=29 November 2022|access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref>

====2023====
In January, AstraZeneca announced it would acquire CinCor Pharma for $1.8 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/astrazeneca-buy-us-based-cincor-pharma-18-bln-deal-2023-01-09/|title=AstraZeneca to buy U.S.-based CinCor Pharma in $1.8 bln deal|newspaper={{wipe|Reuters}}|date=9 January 2023|via=www.reuters.com|last1=Grover |first1=Natalie }}</ref>

In November 2023, AstraZeneca launched a new global health tech business, Evinova, that focused on provide global services to [[Biology:Contract research organization|CROs]] and pharma companies to design, run and monitor clinical trials.<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca creates digital health unit, with big-name partnerships already in place |url=https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/astrazeneca-creates-digital-health-unit-with-big-name-partnerships-already/700330/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=BioPharma Dive |language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2023, AstraZeneca announced that it would acquire an RSV vaccine developer, Icosavax for $1.1 billion.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ray |first=Siladitya |title=AstraZeneca Will Acquire RSV Vaccine Developer Icosavax For $1.1 Billion |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/12/12/astrazeneca-will-acquire-rsv-vaccine-developer-icosavax-for-11-billion/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2023, AstraZeneca has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. for up to $1.2 billion, a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, furthering the AstraZeneca cell therapy ambition.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Urvi Manoj Dugar |first1=and Christy Santhosh |title=AstraZeneca to buy China's Gracell Biotechnologies in $1.2 billion deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/aztrazeneca-buy-china-based-gracell-biotechnologies-12-bln-deal-2023-12-26/ |website=reuters |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref>

==Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca's COVID-19 pandemic response==
{{main|Medicine:Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine}}
[[File:Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (2021) I (cropped).jpg|thumb|Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine]]

=== The road to authorisation by the European Medicines Agency ===
In March 2020, the company announced that it would be donating [[Social:Personal protective equipment|PPE]], including 9 million face masks, to help support various international health organisations mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 March 2020 |title=Coronavirus: AstraZeneca donates nine million face masks and steps up Covid-19 drugs research |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/business/coronavirus-astrazeneca-donates-nine-million-face-masks-and-steps-up-covid-19-drugs-research-9104685/ |access-date=28 April 2020 |website=Cambridge Independent}}</ref>

In April 2020, Chief Executive Pascal Soriot, reported that the company was working with [[Company:GlaxoSmithKline|GlaxoSmithKline]] and the [[Organization:University of Cambridge|University of Cambridge]] to develop a new laboratory capable of conducting 30,000 [[Medicine:COVID-19|COVID-19]] tests per day.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 April 2020 |title=UK coronavirus testing capacity boosted by new AstraZeneca, GSK lab |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-idUSKBN21Q0PR |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher={{wipe|Reuters}}}}</ref> The company also announced plans for a clinical trial to assess the potential use of Calquence in the treatment of COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 April 2020 |title=Cambridge-based AstraZeneca to test one of its cancer medicines for Covid-19 patients &#124; Anglia - ITV News |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-04-14/cambridge-based-astrazeneca-to-test-one-of-its-cancer-medicines-for-covid-19-patients/ |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=Itv.com}}</ref>

In June 2020, the [[Organization:National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases|National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases]] (NIAID) confirmed that the third phase of testing for potential [[Medicine:COVID-19 vaccine|vaccines]] developed by [[Organization:University of Oxford|Oxford University]] and AstraZeneca would begin in July 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Coleman |first=Justine |date=2020-06-10 |title=Final testing stage for potential coronavirus vaccine set to begin in July |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/501999-final-testing-stage-for-coronavirus-vaccine-could-begin-in-july-report |access-date=2020-06-11 |website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref> One of them, AZD1222, reached phase&nbsp;III trials.<ref name="ISRCTN89951424">{{cite journal |last=O'Reilly |first=Peter |name-list-style=vanc |date=26 May 2020 |title=A Phase III study to investigate a vaccine against COVID-19 |type=Registry |doi=10.1186/ISRCTN89951424 |id=ISRCTN89951424 |doi-access=free |website=ISRCTN}}</ref>

On 23 November 2020, Oxford–AstraZeneca announced the vaccine's successful trial, preventing 70% of people developing symptoms.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-12-30 |title=Why AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine approval 'good news for whole world'? UK minister answers |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/why-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-approval-good-news-for-whole-world-uk-minister-answers/story-FgbnyjvsXNx76SbfF5UpYK.html |access-date=2020-12-31 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> The researchers thought that the figure might be as high as 90% if they tweaked the dose.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gallagher |first=James |date=2020-11-23 |title=Covid-19: Oxford University vaccine is highly effective |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55040635 |access-date=2020-11-24}}</ref>

In January 2021, India approved the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, paving the way for a mass immunisation campaign in the world's second most populous country. It was announced that the Oxford–AstraZeneca shot would be made locally by the [[Organization:Serum Institute of India|Serum Institute of India]] (SII) with a brand name COVISHIELD.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-01-02 |title=India approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine |url=https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-vaccine/india-approves-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-idINKBN29707F |access-date=2021-01-02 |website={{wipe|Reuters}}|language=en}}</ref>

=== Side-effects ===
On 29 January 2021, the [[Organization:European Medicines Agency|European Medicines Agency]] (EMA) recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation for AZD1222 in people from 18 years of age.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 January 2021 |title=EMA recommends COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca for authorisation in the EU Share |url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-recommends-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-authorisation-eu}}</ref> By mid-March 2021, The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria and Ireland had suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to worries over six cases of a "rare combination" of blood clots with lowered blood platelets, see embolic and thrombotic events after COVID-19 vaccination. The temporary halt was against the advice of the European Union's medicines regulator who said the benefits of the vaccine still outweigh any potential risks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nectar Gan |date=2021-03-15 |title=European countries suspend AstraZeneca vaccinations despite advice from EU medicines regulator |url=https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-03-15-21/h_278fceebf74385b79c6e5bbe470253d6 |access-date=2021-03-15 |website=CNN|language=en}}</ref>

EMA issued a statement on 18 March 2021 stating that no association between vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccines and clot-related cases had been found, but this could not be ruled out and further investigations were being carried out. The EMA also stressed that the benefits of AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks of possible side effects.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nectar Gan, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya and Mike Hayes |date=2021-03-15 |title=European countries suspend AstraZeneca vaccinations despite advice from EU medicines regulator |url=https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-03-15-21/h_278fceebf74385b79c6e5bbe470253d6 |access-date=2021-09-09 |website=CNN|language=en}}</ref>

=== Name change ===
On 30 March 2021, the Swedish Medicines Agency, [[Organization:Medical Products Agency (Sweden)|Läkemedelsverket]], announced that following the prior approval of the EMA<ref>{{cite web |date=26 March 2021 |title=Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) |url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/vaxzevria-previously-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca |publisher=European Medicines Agency}}</ref> it would change the name of the vaccine to [[Medicine:Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine|Vaxzevria]], stressing that only the name of the vaccine would change, not the composition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Astra Zenecas vaccin byter namn till Vaxzevria {{!}} Läkemedelsverket / Swedish Medical Products Agency |url=https://www.lakemedelsverket.se/sv/nyheter/astra-zenecas-vaccin-byter-namn-till-vaxzevria |access-date=2021-03-31 |website=www.lakemedelsverket.se |language=sv |archive-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330222426/https://www.lakemedelsverket.se/sv/nyheter/astra-zenecas-vaccin-byter-namn-till-vaxzevria |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-03-30 |title=AstraZeneca vaccine renamed 'Vaxzevria' |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/eu-affairs/162559/astrazeneca-vaccine-now-renamed-as-vaxzevria-ema-european-eu-uk-swedish-lakemedelsverket/ |access-date=2021-03-31 |website=The Brussels Times |language=en}}</ref>

=== Side-effects ===
On 6 April 2021, EMA head of vaccines Marco Cavaleri announced that it could be declared that there was a link between the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 (Vaxzevria) vaccine and rare blood clots associated with low platelet counts.<ref>{{cite web |title=EMA official links AstraZeneca vaccine and thrombosis |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-04-ema-links-astrazeneca-vaccine-thrombosis.html |access-date=2021-04-06 |website=medicalxpress.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-04-06 |title='Link' between AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots, EMA official says |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/astrazeneca-vaccine-blood-clots-ema-b1827238.html |access-date=2021-04-06 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> In a statement the following day, the EMA confirmed the link, but continued to recommend the vaccine, saying the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 April 2021 |title=AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine: EMA finds possible link to very rare cases of unusual blood clots with low blood platelets |url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-ema-finds-possible-link-very-rare-cases-unusual-blood-clots-low-blood}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Meredith |first=Sam |date=2021-04-07 |title=EU medicines regulator finds possible link between AstraZeneca Covid vaccine and blood clots |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/07/eu-medicines-regulators-finds-possible-link-between-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-and-blood-clots.html |access-date=2021-09-09 |website={{wipe|CNBC}}|language=en}}</ref> Later, a Scottish vaccine efficacy study confirmed the validity of this statement, showing an 88 percent reduction in the risk of hospitalization after the first dose of Vaxzevria from the fourth week onwards.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Dean |first=Natalie |date=2021-05-01 |title=Hospital admissions due to COVID-19 in Scotland after one dose of vaccine |journal=The Lancet |language=English |volume=397 |issue=10285 |pages=1601–1603 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00765-0 |issn=0140-6736 |pmc=8064667 |pmid=33901421}}</ref> The  European Medicines Agency also identified, over time, the development of the rare neurological disease [[Medicine:Guillain–Barré syndrome|Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)]] as a possible side effect of Vaxzevria. By the time of the EMA's decision in September 2021, Guillain-Barré syndrome was unlikely to have occurred, with only 833 cases of GBS reported in 8 months following the administration of 592 million doses of the vaccine.<ref>{{cite web |title=expert reaction to EMA adding Guillain-Barré syndrome as a very rare side-effect of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria) in the product information {{!}} Science Media Centre |url=https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-ema-adding-guillain-barre-syndrome-as-a-very-rare-side-effect-of-the-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-vaxzevria-in-the-product-information/ |access-date=2021-09-09 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In December 2021, the scientists from [[Organization:Arizona State University|Arizona State University]] and [[Organization:Cardiff University|Cardiff University]] identified “the trigger” behind blood clots. Professor Alan Parker said: “Our data confirms [[Biology:Platelet factor 4|PF4]] can bind to adenoviruses, an important step in unravelling the mechanism underlying VITT.{{efn|Vaccine induced Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia}} Establishing a mechanism could help to prevent and treat this disorder.”<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-12-02 |title=Scientists identify possible trigger of blood clots after AstraZeneca vaccine |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/scientists-alan-parker-covid-science-advances-cardiff-b1968242.html |access-date=2021-12-02 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-12-02 |title=Cardiff scientists may have identified cause of AZ Covid vaccine blood clots |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-12-02/cardiff-scientists-may-have-identified-cause-of-covid-vaccine-blood-clots |access-date=2021-12-02 |website=ITV News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Lawsuits ===
In April 2021, the European Commission announced that it would sue Astra Zeneca for delaying the timely delivery of Vaxzevria at a time when "every vaccine counts, because every vaccine can save lives".<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=Commission announces lawsuit against AstraZeneca for vaccine shortages |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-lawsuits-astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccine-shortages/ |access-date=2021-09-09 |website=Politico |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=EU sues AstraZeneca over breach of COVID-19 vaccine supply contract |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-sues-astrazeneca-over-delayed-deliveries-covid-19-vaccine-2021-04-26/ |access-date=2021-09-09 |website={{wipe|Reuters}}|language=en}}</ref> In September 2021, the lawsuit was finally settled with AstraZeneca agreeing to deliver 60 million doses of vaccines to EU member states by October, 75 million by the end of the year, and 65 million more by April 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press corner |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en |access-date=2021-09-09 |website=European Commission - European Commission |language=en}}</ref>

==Acquisition history==
The following is an illustration of the company's major mergers and acquisitions and historical predecessors:<ref>{{cite web |title=A comprehensive list of AstraZeneca's subsidiary holdings |url=http://www.astrazeneca-annualreports.com/2014/assets/pdf/Principal_Subsidiaries.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603121038/http://www.astrazeneca-annualreports.com/2014/assets/pdf/Principal_Subsidiaries.pdf |archive-date=3 June 2016 |publisher=AstraZeneca}}</ref>
{{Tree list}}
* '''AstraZeneca'''
** AstraZeneca <small>(Merged 1999)</small>
*** Astra AB <small>(Founded 1913)</small>
**** Tika <small>(Acq 1939)</small>
*** Zeneca <small>(Spun off from Imperial Chemical Industries, 1993)</small>
**** Salick Health Care <small>(Acq 1996)</small>
**** Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha <small>(US fungicide operations, Acq 1997)</small>
** KuDOS Pharmaceuticals <small>(Acq 2005)</small>
** MedImmune Biologics
*** [[Company:Cambridge Antibody Technology|Cambridge Antibody Technology]] <small>(Acq 2006)</small>
**** Aptein Inc <small>(Acq 1998)</small>
*** [[Company:MedImmune|MedImmune]] <small>(Acq 2007)</small>
**** Definiens<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca - MedImmune completes acquisition of Definiens |url=http://www.astrazeneca.com/Media/Press-releases/Article/20141126--medimmune-completes-acquisition-of-definiens |website=astrazeneca.com}}</ref> <small>(Acq 2014)</small>
** Arrow Therapeutics <small>(Acq 2007)</small>
** Novexel Corp <small>(Acq 2010)</small>
** Guangdong BeiKang Pharmaceutical Company <small>(Acq 2011)</small>
** Ardea Biosciences <small>(Acq 2012)</small>
** Amylin Pharmaceuticals <small>(Acq 2012 jointly with [[Company:Bristol-Myers Squibb|Bristol-Myers Squibb]])</small>
** Spirogen <small>(Acq 2013)</small>
** Pearl Therapeutics<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca - AstraZeneca to acquire Pearl Therapeutics to strengthen respiratory portfolio |url=http://www.astrazeneca.com/Media/Press-releases/Article/20130610--az-acquire-pearl |website=astrazeneca.com}}</ref> <small>(Acq 2013)</small>
** Omthera Pharmaceuticals<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca - AstraZeneca to acquire Omthera Pharmaceuticals including NDA-ready novel dyslipidemia treatment to complement cardiovascular portfolio |url=http://www.astrazeneca.com/Media/Press-releases/Article/20130528-omthera |website=astrazeneca.com}}</ref> <small>(Acq 2013)</small>
** ZS Pharma <small>(Acq 2015)</small>
** [[Company:Alexion Pharmaceuticals|Alexion Pharmaceuticals]]<ref name="auto"/> <small>(Acq 2021)</small>
*** Proliferon Inc <small>(Acq 2000, restructured into Alexion Antibody Technologies Inc)</small>
*** Enobia Pharma Corp <small>(Acq 2011)</small>
*** Synageva BioPharma <small>(Acq 2015)</small>
*** Wilson Therapeutics <small>(Acq 2018)</small>
*** Syntimmune <small>(Acq 2018)</small>
*** Achillion Pharmaceuticals <small>(Acq 2019)</small>
*** Portola Pharmaceuticals <small>(Acq 2020)</small>
*** Caelum Biosciences <small>(Acq 2021)</small>
** TeneoTwo <small>(Acq 2022)</small>
** LogicBio Therapeutics <small>(Acq 2022)</small>
** Neogene Therapeutics <small>(Acq 2022)</small>
** CinCor Pharma <small>(Acq 2023)</small>
** Icosavax <small>(Acq 2023)</small>
{{Tree list/end}}

==Operations==
[[File:Astrahassleentrance.JPG|right|thumb|The AstraZeneca R&D facility in Gothenburg, Sweden]]
[[File:AstraZeneca HQ in Cambridge UK under construction in sunset.jpg|right|thumb|The new AstraZeneca Corporate HQ under construction in Cambridge, England]]
AstraZeneca develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceutical and biotechnology products to treat disorders in the [[Medicine:Oncology|oncology]], [[Biology:Circulatory system|cardiovascular]], [[Medicine:Gastroenterology|gastrointestinal]], [[Medicine:Infectious disease|infection]],  [[Biology:Neuroscience|neuroscience]], respiratory and [[Medicine:Inflammation|inflammation]] areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=AstraZeneca |url=https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/organisations/astrazeneca/ |access-date=24 February 2021 |publisher=European Pharmaceutical Review}}</ref>

AstraZeneca has its corporate headquarters in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and its main [[Research and development|research and development]] (R&D) centres are in Cambridge (UK), Gaithersburg (Maryland, US), Gothenburg (Sweden) and [[Place:Warsaw|Warsaw]] (Poland).<ref>{{cite web |title=Nowe inwestycje w B+R w Polsce po spotkaniu Premiera Morawieckiego z Prezesem AstraZeneca podczas Światowego Forum Ekonomicznego w Davos |url=https://www.astrazeneca.pl/aktualnosci/Nowe_inwestycje_w_BR_w_Polsce.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213023049/https://www.astrazeneca.pl/aktualnosci/Nowe_inwestycje_w_BR_w_Polsce.html |archive-date=13 February 2020 |access-date=2020-02-13 |website=astrazeneca.pl |language=en}}</ref>

==Orphan drugs==

In April 2015, AstraZeneca's drug [[Chemistry:Tremelimumab|tremelimumab]] was approved as an [[Chemistry:Orphan drug|orphan drug]] for the treatment of [[Medicine:Mesothelioma|mesothelioma]] in the United States.<ref name="mesothelioma">{{Citation |last=Hirschler |first=Ben |title=AstraZeneca immune system drug wins orphan status in rare cancer |date=15 April 2015 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/astrazeneca-cancer-idUSL5N0XB3C220150415 |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|place=London |access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref> In February 2016, AstraZeneca announced that a [[Engineering:Clinical trial|clinical trial]] of tremelimumab as a treatment for mesothelioma failed to meet its primary endpoint.<ref name="tremelimumab">{{Citation |title=AstraZeneca reports top-line result of tremelimumab monotherapy trial in mesothelioma |date=29 February 2016 |url=https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-company/media-centre/press-releases/2016/astrazeneca-reports-top-line-result-of-tremelimumab-monotherapy-trial-in-mesothelioma-29022016.html}}</ref>

==Senior management==
As of 2008, David Brennan was paid US$1,574,144 for his role as chief executive officer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Executive directors' salaries 2009 |url=http://www.astrazeneca-annualreports.com/2008/remuneration_report/exec_directors_exec_team.html#basic-salary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211155349/http://www.astrazeneca-annualreports.com/2008/remuneration_report/exec_directors_exec_team.html#basic-salary |archive-date=11 February 2010 |access-date=22 August 2009 |website=Remuneration Report – AstraZeneca Annual Report 2008 |publisher=AstraZeneca}}</ref>

On 26 April 2012, it was announced that Brennan was to retire in early June of that year.<ref name="brennangoes">[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/apr/26/astrazeneca-boss-quits-boardroom-coup?newsfeed=true AstraZeneca boss David Brennan quits under pressure from investors] ''The Guardian'', 26 April 2012</ref> In August 2012, Pascal Soriot was named CEO of AstraZeneca.<ref>{{cite news |title=Astra Zeneca appoints Roches Pascal Soriot as new chief |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/pharmaceuticalsandchemicals/9504462/AstraZeneca-appoints-Roches-Pascal-Soriot-as-new-chief.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 March 2016 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/pharmaceuticalsandchemicals/9504462/AstraZeneca-appoints-Roches-Pascal-Soriot-as-new-chief.html |archive-date=11 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

It was also announced that Leif Johansson would succeed Louis Schweitzer as non-executive chairman on 1 June 2012, three months earlier than previously announced, and would become Chairman of the Nomination and Governance Committee after the 2012 Annual General Meeting.<ref name= brennangoes/>

The company's non-executive Board directors are Philip Broadley, Euan Ashley, Michel Demaré, Deborah DiSanzo, Diana Layfield, Sheri McCoy, Tony Mok, Nazneen Rahman, Andreas Rummelt, and Marcus Wallenberg.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leadership - Our Company - AstraZeneca |url=https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-company/leadership.html |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=www.astrazeneca.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Outreach ==

=== Political lobbying ===
AstraZeneca is a member of the Personalized Medicine Coalition, a medical research advocacy group that lobbies on behalf of the [[Medicine:Pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceutical industry]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Current Members |url=https://www.personalizedmedicinecoalition.org/Members/Current_Members |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406163712/https://www.personalizedmedicinecoalition.org/Members/Current_Members |archive-date=2022-04-06 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Personalized Medicine Coalition |language=en}}</ref>

==Controversies==

=== Following 2008 Sichuan earthquake ===
AstraZeneca's reputation in China was tarnished following the failure of its Chinese subsidiary to timely donate to relief efforts following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.<ref name=":11">{{cite book |last1=Marquis |first1=Christopher |url= |title=Mao and markets the communist roots of Chinese enterprise |last2=Qiao |first2=Kunyuan |date=2022 |publisher=Yale University Press |others=Kunyuan Qiao |isbn=978-0-300-26883-6 |location=New Haven |oclc=1348572572 |author-link=Christopher Marquis}}</ref>{{Rp|page=121}} Typically, donations for disaster relief in China are made through funds established through the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs and its subordinate organization the Red Cross Society of China.<ref name=":11" />{{Rp|page=121}} AstraZeneca had a corporate rule prohibiting foreign subsidiaries from making donations to local governments and the company construed this rule as prohibiting donations for Sichuan earthquake relief efforts.<ref name=":11" />{{Rp|page=121}} AstraZeneca's Chinese subsidiary received major backlash for its failure to donate.<ref name=":11" />{{Rp|page=121}} While corporate approval was ultimately given for the Chinese subsidiary to donate, the approval came after long delay.<ref name=":11" />{{Rp|page=121}}

===Seroquel===
In April 2010, AstraZeneca settled a ''qui tam'' lawsuit brought by Stefan P. Kruszewski for US$520&nbsp;million to settle allegations that the company defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-funded health care programs in connection with its marketing and promotional practices for the blockbuster atypical antipsychotic, Seroquel. According to the settlement agreement, AstraZeneca targeted its illegal marketing of the anti-psychotic Seroquel towards doctors who do not typically treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, such as physicians who treat the elderly, primary care physicians, pediatric and adolescent physicians, and in long-term care facilities and prisons.<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/April/10-civ-487.html Pharmaceutical Giant AstraZeneca to Pay $520 Million for Off-label Drug Marketing] U.S. Department of Justice, 27 April 2010</ref>

In March 2011, AstraZeneca settled a [[Social:Lawsuit|lawsuit]] in the United States totalling US$68.5&nbsp;million to be divided up to 38 states.<ref>{{cite news |title=Drugmaker settles lawsuits over Seroquel |work=The Des Moines Register |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110311/BUSINESS/103110347/1017/SPORTS06/?odyssey |access-date=1 March 2011}}{{dead link|date=June 2014}}</ref>

===Nexium===
The company's most commercially successful medication is [[Chemistry:Esomeprazole|esomeprazole]] (Nexium). The primary uses are treatment of [[Medicine:Gastroesophageal reflux disease|gastroesophageal reflux disease]], treatment and maintenance of erosive esophagitis, treatment of duodenal ulcers caused by ''Helicobacter pylori'', prevention of gastric ulcers in those on chronic NSAID therapy, and treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers associated with [[Medicine:Crohn's disease|Crohn's disease]]. When it is manufactured the result is a mixture of two [[Chemistry:Enantiomer|mirror-imaged molecules]], R and S. Two years before the omeprazole patent expired, AstraZeneca patented S-omeprazole in pure form, pointing out that since some people metabolise R-omeprazole slowly, pure S-omeprazole treatment would give higher dose efficiency and less variation between individuals.<ref>[http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5877192 United States Patent 5,877,192] USPTO Patent Database, 11 April 1997</ref> In March 2001, the company began to market [[Chemistry:Esomeprazole|Nexium]], as it would a brand new drug.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=25 October 2004 |title=High Prices |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/10/25/041025crat_atlarge?currentPage=all |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref>

The (R)-enantiomer of omeprazole is metabolized exclusively by the enzyme CYP2C19, which is expressed in very low amounts by 3% of the population. Treated with a normal dose of the enantiomeric mixture, these persons will experience blood levels five-times higher than those with normal CYP2C19 production. In contrast, esomeprazole is metabolized by both CYP2C19 and CYP3A4, providing less-variable drug exposure.<ref>Lemke TL, Williams DA, Roche VF, Zito SW. Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, 7th edition, Chapter 12</ref> While omeprazole is approved only at doses of up to 20&nbsp;mg for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux,<ref>{{cite web |title=Highlights of Prescribing Medicine |url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/019810s098,022056s014lbl.pdf |website=Food and Drugs Administration}}</ref> esomeprazole is approved for doses up to 40&nbsp;mg.<ref>{{cite web |title=Highlights of Prescribing Medicine |url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/021153s046,021957s015,022101s012lbl.pdf |website=Food and Drugs Administration}}</ref>

In 2007, Marcia Angell, former editor-in-chief of the ''New England Journal of Medicine'' and a lecturer in [[Medicine:Social medicine|social medicine]] at the Harvard Medical School, said in ''Stern'', a German-language weekly newsmagazine, that AstraZeneca's scientists had misrepresented their research on the drug's efficiency, saying: "Instead of using presumably comparable doses [of each drug], the company's scientists used Nexium in higher dosages. They compared 20 and 40 mg Nexium with 20 mg Prilosec. With the cards having been marked in that way, Nexium looked like an improvement – which however was only small and shown in only two of the three studies."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grill |first1=Markus |last2=Hansen |first2=Hans |date=16 August 2007 |title="Vorsicht, Pharma! Wie die Industrie Ärzte manipuliert und Patienten täuscht" ('Caution, Pharma! How the industry manipulates physicians and deceives patients') |url=http://www.stern.de/magazin/heft/595225.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013162711/http://www.stern.de/magazin/heft/595225.html |archive-date=13 October 2007 |access-date=14 October 2011 |publisher=Stern |location=Germany |pages=100–107 |language=de}}</ref>

===Bildman fraud, sexual harassment and faithless servant clawback===
On 4 February 1998, Astra USA sued Lars Bildman, its former president and chief executive officer, seeking US$15&nbsp;million for [[Finance:Fraud|defrauding]] the company.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20000202015741/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/feb1998/nf80204e.htm Astra hauls ex-CEO Lars Bildman into court] Business Week, 4 February 1998</ref> The sum included US$2.3&nbsp;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 [[Engineering:Yacht|yacht]]s and prostitutes, destroyed [[Document|document]]s and [[Business record|record]]s, and concocted: "tales of conspiracy involving ex-KGB [[Social:Espionage|agent]]s and competitors. This was in a last-ditch effort to distract attention from the real wrongdoer, Bildman himself." Bildman had already pleaded guilty in US District Court for failing to report more than US$1&nbsp;million in income on his tax returns.<ref name=guiltyplea /> In addition, several female co-workers filed personal sexual-harassment lawsuits against Bildman.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 October 2009 |title=Astra Boss Hit With $7M Fine for Sex Harassment; Reps Share Memories of Bonkers CEO |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/astra-boss-hit-with-7m-fine-for-sex-harassment-reps-share-memories-of-bonkers-ceo/ |access-date=19 March 2016 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref> In April 1998, Bildman was sentenced to 21 months in prison three months after he pled  guilty to filing false Federal tax returns.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 April 1998 |title=Ex-Astra Executive Is Sentenced To 21-Month Term for Tax Evasion |publisher={{wipe|The Wall Street Journal}} |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB892427928646844000 |accessdate=4 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="guiltyplea">{{cite news |last=The Associated Press |date=27 January 1998 |title=Ex-Astra Official Pleads Guilty in Tax Case |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/27/business/ex-astra-official-pleads-guilty-in-tax-case.html |accessdate=4 May 2021}}</ref>

In February 1998, AstraZenaca's U.S. affiliate Astra U.S.A. agreed to a $10 million settlement after an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation which started in May 1996 found that sexual harassment against female employees.<ref name="sexualharrasment">{{cite news |last=Gilpin |first=Kenneth N. |date=February 6, 1998 |title=Firm to Pay $10 Million In Settlement Of Sex Case |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/06/us/firm-to-pay-10-million-in-settlement-of-sex-case.html |accessdate=May 4, 2021}}</ref> 120 former female employees of Astra were interviewed during the inquiry, with about 80 of them being identified as able to file claims.<ref name=sexualharrasment /> Astra U.S.A. also issued a statement of apology for the hostile work environment.<ref name=sexualharrasment />

In ''Astra USA v. Bildman'', 914 N.E.2d 36 (Mass. 2009), applying New York's [[Social:Faithless servant|faithless servant]] doctrine, the court held that a company's employee who had engaged in financial misdeeds and sexual harassment must "forfeit all of his salary and bonuses for the period of disloyalty".<ref name="auto6">{{cite book |last1=Glynn |first1=Timothy P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3RaGDwAAQBAJ&q=%22faithless+servant%22&pg=PA472 |title=Employment Law: Private Ordering and Its Limitations |last2=Arnow-Richman |first2=Rachel S. |last3=Sullivan |first3=Charles A. |date=2019 |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Law & Business |isbn=9781543801064 |via=Google Books}}</ref> The court held that this was the case even if the employee "otherwise performed valuable services", and that the employee was not entitled to recover restitution for the value of those other services.<ref name="auto6" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Carroll |first1=James R. |last2=Weida |first2=Jason Collins |date=1 January 2010 |title=Faithless Servants Beware: Massachusetts Forfeiture Law is More Severe than Astra USA, Inc. v. Bildman Might Suggest |journal=Boston Bar Journal, Winter 2010 |ssrn=1775205}}</ref> The decision attracted a good deal of attention by legal commentators.<ref name="auto9">{{cite journal |last=Sullivan |first=Charles A. |date=4 March 2011 |title=Mastering the Faithless Servant? Reconciling Employment Law, Contract Law, and Fiduciary Duty |journal=Seton Hall Public Law Research Paper No. 1777082 |ssrn=1777082}}</ref>

===CAFÉ study===
In 2004, [[Organization:University of Minnesota|University of Minnesota]] research participant Dan Markingson took his own life while enrolled in an industry-sponsored pharmaceutical trial comparing three FDA-approved atypical antipsychotics: [[Chemistry:Quetiapine|Seroquel (quetiapine)]], [[Chemistry:Olanzapine|Zyprexa (olanzapine)]], and [[Chemistry:Risperidone|Risperdal (risperidone)]]. University of Minnesota Professor of Bioethics [[Biography:Carl Elliott (philosopher)|Carl Elliott]] noted that Markingson was enrolled in the study against the wishes of his mother, Mary Weiss, and that he was forced to choose between enrolling in the study or being involuntarily committed to a state mental institution.<ref name="mj">{{cite web |last=Elliott |first=Carl |date=1 September 2010 |title=The deadly corruption of clinical trials. |url=https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2010/09/dan-markingson-drug-trial-astrazeneca?page=1}}</ref> A 2005 FDA investigation cleared the university. Nonetheless, controversy around the case has continued. A ''Mother Jones'' article<ref name=mj/> resulted in a group of university faculty members sending a public letter to the university Board of Regents urging an external investigation into Markingson's death.<ref>{{cite web |title=U of M Board of Regents Markingson Letter |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/49659724/U-of-M-Board-of-Regents-Markingson-Letter |access-date=14 February 2016 |website=Scribd}}</ref>

===Transfer mispricing===
In 2010, AstraZeneca agreed to pay £505&nbsp;million to settle a UK tax dispute related to [[Finance:Transfer mispricing|transfer mispricing]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/feb/23/astrazeneca-tax-uk-pharmaceuticals AstraZeneca agrees to pay £505m to settle UK tax dispute], ''The Guardian'' 23 February 2010</ref>

=== Conflicting commitments to the UK and the EU ===
[[File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Schuman - Berlaymont - 01.jpg|thumb|Seat of the European Commission, which negotiated a contract with AstraZeneca]]
In August 2020 AstraZeneca declared towards the European Commission and the EU member states:
:"13.1. AstraZeneca represents, warrants and covenants to the Commission and the Participating Member States that: [...] (e) it is not under any obligation, contractual or otherwise, to any Person or third party in respect of the Initial Europe Doses or that conflicts with or is inconsistent in any material respect with the terms of this Agreement or would impede the complete fulfilment of its obligation under this Agreement;"<ref>{{cite web |title=Advance purchase agreement ("APA") for the production, purchase and supply of a COVID-19 vaccine in the European Union |url=https://www.rai.it/dl/doc/2021/02/19/1613725900577_AZ_FIRMATO_REPORT.pdf |access-date=5 April 2021 |publisher=European Union}}</ref>

However, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, declared in March 2021 that the United Kingdom had been given "exclusivity" and that the EU's treaty was "inferior".<ref>{{cite news |date=25 March 2021 |title=We have exclusivity deal with AstraZeneca: UK Health Secy |publisher=Daiji World |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=817082}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=25 March 2021 |title=CORONAVIRUS: EU contract with AstraZeneca is inferior to UK's, says Matt Hancock |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eu-contract-with-astrazeneca-is-inferior-to-uks-says-matt-hancock-9l70xr20h}}</ref> After placing the order for AstraZeneca's vaccine, the European Commission mistakenly assumed that it had enough vaccines and initially ordered only 200 million doses from Pfizer–BioNTech when the manufacturers offered 500 million doses to the EU in November 2020.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 December 2020 |title=The Planning Disaster: Germany and Europe Could Fall Short on Vaccine Supplies |publisher=Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-planning-disaster-germany-and-europe-could-fall-short-on-vaccine-supplies-a-3db4702d-ae23-4e85-85b7-20145a898abd}}</ref>

However, the contract that AstraZeneca reached with the UK was very similar to that it reached with the EU, and it also contained the phrase "best reasonable efforts"; the UK contract was signed on 28 August 2020, a day after the contract with the EU.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 February 2021 |title=AstraZeneca's vaccine contract with the UK is based on 'best efforts,' just like its deal with a frustrated EU |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/17/europe/uk-astrazeneca-vaccine-contract-details-intl/index.html |access-date=5 April 2021 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The key difference seems to be that AstraZeneca entered into a preliminary agreement with the U.K. back in May 2020 which arranged for "the development of a dedicated supply chain for the U.K."<ref>{{cite news |date=22 February 2021 |title=How the UK gained an edge with AstraZeneca's vaccine commitments |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-key-differences-between-the-eu-and-uk-astrazeneca-contracts/ |access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref> The failure to produce the vaccine in the anticipated quantities contributed to the low vaccination rates of vulnerable populations of the European Union at the beginning of the outbreak of more virulent variants of [[Biology:Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]] in early 2021.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 March 2021 |title=How the EU's vaccine rollout moved from farce into tragedy |publisher=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/22/eus-vaccine-rollout-moved-farce-tragedy/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/22/eus-vaccine-rollout-moved-farce-tragedy/ |archive-date=11 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== China comments ===
In May 2023, AstraZeneca's China president said that the company aims to be a "patriotic" company in China that "loves the Communist Party."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cash |first1=Joe |last2=Goh |first2=Brenda |last3=Cash |first3=Joe |last4=Goh |first4=Brenda |date=2023-05-19 |title=AstraZeneca will seek to "love the Communist Party", its China boss says |language=en |work={{wipe|Reuters}} |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/astrazenecas-china-boss-says-drugmaker-will-seek-love-communist-party-2023-05-19/ |access-date=2023-05-21}}</ref>

==See also==
* Pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom
* List of pharmaceutical companies

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

{{AstraZeneca}}
{{Pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Astrazeneca}}

[[Category:Vaccine producers]]

{{Sourceattribution|AstraZeneca}}