AstraZeneca Opens Drug-Development Facility in India

AstraZeneca has inaugurated a new state-of-the-art process and development laboratory next to its R&D centre in Bangalore, India.

The facility, built at a cost of $15 million, covers 8,000 square meters and can accommodate up to 75 process scientists, supported by office and engineering staff. This is AstraZeneca's fourth such facility and the only one outside of Europe.

"Facilities of this kind will leverage India's strengths in process chemistry," David Brennan, CEO of AstraZeneca, said.

This facility will strengthen the company's global process and development programs and support the existing drug-discovery program at the Bangalore site, which is engaged in finding a cure for tuberculosis.

Facility researchers will focus on studying new chemical entities. Process and development scientists typically work with compounds created by medicinal chemists to ensure that they are safe and efficient, according to AstraZeneca.