AstraZeneca officially opened its new Global Medicines Development (GMD) Centre in Bengaluru. The unit is one of its nine GMD centres globally that transform breakthrough molecules into medicines and monitor its use and safety.
With this opening, India will now play an even bigger role in AstraZeneca’s international operations, stated the company.
Globally, GMD works with AstraZeneca’s two biotech units: Innovative Medicines and Early Development (IMED) and MedImmune besides its Global Portfolio and Product Strategy (GPPS) organisation to understand where there is unmet medical need.
The GMD team in Bengaluru will focus on supporting AstraZeneca’s medicines, which covers treatments across oncology, respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The centre will play a pivotal role supporting 51 of its mature brands which are used by patients globally. During the last year, it recruited scientific experts representing regulatory science, clinical, and patient safety. It has increased its personnel strength from 30 to 70 people. The expansion will see a further increase over 100 specialists.
Swedish Ambassador to India Klas Molin and chief guest at the GMD centre inauguration stated, “Further to the bilateral innovation partnership between India and Sweden, we are pleased to bring more Swedish innovation into the country. The opening of the GMD unit here is yet another promising step for strengthening this partnership for a sustainable future between Sweden and India.”
Elisabeth Björk VP, Global Medicines Development Unit Head for Cardiovascular, Metabolic Renal Diseases, AstraZeneca who was also in Bengaluru said the company has a long-standing commitment in India over 40 years. The GMD expansion is part of the continued commitment to enhance scientific innovation in the country.
“We plan to recruit more physicians, scientists and regulatory experts to support the GMD Bengaluru, and continue to deliver value for our global mature brands in oncology, respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases,” stated Veena Rajan, GMD Site Lead Bengaluru, AstraZeneca India.
Siva Padmanabhan, Centre Head, Global Technology Centre Chennai, AstraZeneca India said that the GMD expansion further strengthens the capabilities to deliver more effective medicines for patients around the world.