AstraZeneca opens new TB research facility in Bangalore
AstraZeneca has opened a multimillion dollar research facility in Bangalore, India, which will focus on finding new treatments for tuberculosis. AZ previously announced an investment programme for the drug discovery centre in Bangalore, which employs more than 100 scientists. This sum included US$10m (€8.4m) to create the new research laboratories. The company will spend a further $30m (€25.3m) over the next five years on laboratory equipment and operations costs.
The AZ research programme in Bangalore, which also involves collaborations with academia, is utilising the latest technologies in drug discovery and development to find new, more effective drug candidates.
'Together with researchers across our 11,000 scientist strong r&d organisation, AstraZeneca Discovery Bangalore has been set the challenge of finding the world's first new TB drug since 1964,' said Sir Tom McKillop, ceo of AstraZeneca plc. ' AstraZeneca will make any TB medicines discovered in these laboratories available for clinical development and supply to the world's poorest countries at low prices, in partnership with governments, healthcare systems, international agencies and others.' He expressed the hope that the imminent meeting of the G8 Ministers would result in agreement on an international step-change in the allocation of resources for the treatment of TB.
The initiative has been welcomed by the ABPI. 'The pharmaceutical industry has consistently provided essential medicines for diseases of the developing world, and this is the latest example of the industry's determined commitment to continue this activity,' said Dr Trevor Jones, director general of the ABPI.
'But the world's healthcare problems cannot be solved purely by the pharmaceutical industry operating alone. It is essential that the others involved should also play their part - particularly governments in the rich world, providing the necessary support and resource; and governments of the developing world, making health a priority.
'International organisations, non-governmental organisations, and global charities must also be committed to this joint activity,' he added.