Following the signature of the bilateral innovation partnership for a sustainable future between Sweden and India, AstraZeneca has now announced an investment of US$ 90 million in India over the next 5 years to develop local skills, build scientific innovation and promote quality manufacturing with the aim to improve overall health outcomes in the country.
 
The move follows a meeting between Leon Wang, executive vice president for International Region AstraZeneca and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the latter’s visit to Sweden, where the two countries signed a joint declaration on innovation partnership for a sustainable future.
 
This investment commitment will span across AstraZeneca’s diverse footprint in India with an aim to strengthen its manufacturing, clinical operations, patient safety & regulatory science, IT services and commercial operations. Furthermore, this investment will support scientific data generation, quality manufacturing, science talent development and collaborative development of innovative solutions to improve the standard of care of non-communicable diseases in India. The commitment also aligns closely with the Indian government’s initiatives to create a stronger business, innovation, and healthcare environment such as ‘Skill India’, ‘National Health Policy’ and ‘Ayushman Bharat’.
 
“AstraZeneca has a long-standing commitment in India of 40 years. Our latest investment reflects our commitment to address the unmet needs in non-communicable diseases, enable high-value job creation and boost medical innovation in the country. We believe, this investment commitment across AstraZeneca’s business footprint in India, will make a positive impact. It also aligns closely with the government’s vision for healthcare and innovation, stated Wang.
 
The strategy in India is to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. The company invests in many initiatives and programs such as the Young Health Programme, Early action in diabetes & healthy lung for early action in awareness, prevention, detection and holistic management of non-communicable diseases, stated the company note.
 
At present, AstraZeneca has a workforce of over 4,000 employees in India spanning manufacturing, sales and marketing, clinical operations, IT services, digital services and global medicines development. The company recently announced expansion of its Global Technology Centre (GTC) in Chennai, now employing more than 2,000 employees. GTC is AstraZeneca’s first, insourced IT facility. AstraZeneca’s manufacturing facility in Bengaluru has a sophisticated production facility designed to meet the most stringent international standards, conforming to World Health Organisation cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) norms. AstraZeneca also has a sizeable clinical operation and is expanding its Global medicines development unit that focuses on patient safety and regulatory science in India.
 
This year, AstraZeneca will celebrate its 40th business anniversary in India. It is present in India through 2 legal entities: AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited (AZPIL), a listed company, established in 1979 and headquartered in Bengaluru. It has a workforce of over 1,200 employees and is the operating company covering manufacturing, sales and marketing activities. Its product portfolio covers treatment options for as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, asthma & COPD.