AstraZeneca investit 10 M$ à Montréal

[mtlurb]

AstraZeneca investit 10 M$ à Montréal

 

2 février 2007 - 14h43

LaPresseAffaires.com

Presse Canadienne

 

AstraZeneca Canada investira 10 M$ en vue d'agrandir son centre de recherche fondamentale situé dans l'arrondissement montréalais de Saint-Laurent.

 

Plus de détails suivront

[mtlurb]

MONTREAL, Feb. 2 /CNW Telbec/ - AstraZeneca Canada Inc. will invest

$10 million to expand its state-of-the-art basic research centre located in

the Saint-Laurent Technoparc in metropolitan Montreal. The investment builds

on the company's long-standing commitment to research and development in

Quebec, a commitment that has translated into more than $400 million for

scientific research and development over the past ten years.

"This new investment will allow us to build on the research and discovery

success we have enjoyed at the site over the past decade", said Mark Jones,

President & CEO, AstraZeneca Canada Inc. "It demonstrates our continued

commitment to invest in the province and make a major contribution to the

knowledge-based economy."

"This investment reinforces the province's strong reputation as one of

the leading centres for life sciences research in Canada," said Minister

Raymond Bachand, Minister Economic Development and Trade, Innovation and

Exportation. "Together with the life sciences sector, we have created and

fostered an environment for growth and innovation."

 

New Investment

 

Today's $10 million expansion announcement will fund the construction of

a new addition to the original building and related scientific equipment that

will integrate several departments involved in the drug discovery process. The

10,000 square foot space will also enable chemists to be transferred from a

nearby research site helping to foster closer research collaboration and

provide space for future growth options.

Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its opening, in spring 2007,

AstraZeneca Research and Development Montreal (AZRDM) is one of only three

basic research centres in Canada for the innovative pharmaceutical industry,

and is a cornerstone of the AstraZeneca vision to become a world leader in the

therapeutic area of pain control. The leading edge facility employs more than

125 highly skilled scientists, who have already discovered six promising

compounds - a high drug discovery success rate.

"The pain research conducted at this facility is world-class," said

Dr. Philippe Walker, Vice-President and Head, Drug Discovery at AstraZeneca

Research and Development Montreal. "Our scientists are unwavering in their

pursuit of compounds that may one day benefit patients in Canada and around

the world."

 

About R&D at AstraZeneca Canada

 

AstraZeneca is committed to promoting excellence in Canadian health

science research, supporting the growth of Canada's scientific community and

providing opportunities to attract and retain top researchers and scientists.

In 2006, the company developed several partnerships with companies in the life

sciences sector with the goal of accelerating its drug discovery process.

The company is also proud to support leading-edge health sciences

research at universities, hospitals and medical schools across the country. It

has recently established several partnerships in Quebec including a $1 million

investment to fund a Chair in Respiratory Health at the University of Montreal

to establish a post-graduate program in pharmaceutical care, and a landmark

five-year, $2.5 million investment in the McGill Centre for Research on Pain

(MCRP).

 

About AstraZeneca

 

AstraZeneca is a leading global pharmaceutical company with an extensive

product portfolio spanning six major therapeutic areas: gastrointestinal,

cardiovascular, infection, neuroscience, oncology, and respiratory.

AstraZeneca's Canadian headquarters and packaging facilities are located in

Mississauga, Ontario, and its state-of-the-art drug discovery centre is based

in Montreal, Quebec. For more information, please visit the company's website

at www.astrazeneca.ca.