AstraZeneca in Cambridge

Our team of world-renowned scientists collaborate to support the identification and validation of targets regulating biological processes which are the fundamental drivers of human disease. Using a variety of tools, including in vivo and in vitro assays and bio-informatic approaches, our scientists rigorously test biological hypotheses across all of our therapy areas in both small molecules and biologics.

Our medicinal chemistry capabilities enable us to integrate structural, pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and toxicological information to support the innovative design of novel chemical compounds. Pushing the boundaries of medicinal chemistry enables the delivery of new candidate drugs into our pipeline, and is the foundation of small molecule drug discovery across the company.

Our Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering Team applies cutting-edge technologies in the discovery of novel therapeutic biologics to change the lives of patients. The team works collaboratively across all therapy areas, using a range of innovative in-house platform technologies such as phage and ribosome display, Fc engineering and novel peptide discovery methodologies. We have an exceptional track record of delivery, having discovered and engineered almost 100 protein therapeutics that have entered the clinic.

Our translational expertise enables us to accelerate the development of new druggable targets in human disease and select the right patients in early clinical trials. We do this by embedding human target validation earlier in research, taking an innovative approach to clinical trial design and integrating multiple data sources to share timely scientific insights across our focus areas. As a leader in personalised healthcare, we are also committed to matching new medicines to the patients that will benefit the most.  We do this by combining our expertise in companion diagnostics with laboratory science in molecular diagnostics, tissue diagnostics, imaging and protein biomarkers and working with external partners to harness breakthrough technologies, throughout the life-cycle of our medicines.

Our Biopharmaceutical Development team develops the process and analytics to produce and characterise product candidates, including the formulations and drug product forms, for delivering medicines to patients. Working closely with research, the team helps define and select the best product candidates to progress into development.

Our Early Clinical Development team designs and delivers early phase development strategies and exploratory studies that build the credentials of novel targets. Clinical Operations delivers global clinical trials for late stage projects across our pipeline, using both internal and external programme and study management expertise. Our leading expertise in large outcomes trials enables us to deliver multi-country, multi-site studies with thousands of patients, many of which include a personalised approach.