Astra ploughs money into medical research

09 August 1997 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Swedish pharmaceutical company Astra is to develop three research facilities - but close a fourth - in a move that follows board approval to spend SKr2.4bn ($307m) on new centres of excellence.

The Astra Arcus unit in Rochester, New York, US, which carries out research into the central nervous system (CNS) is to be closed. The unit is moving its preclinical research on stroke, Alzheimer's disease and depression disorders to Boston, Massachusetts. The unit's other facility at Snäckvicken, Södertälje in Sweden will continue to carry out research in the area of neuro-inflation. Following the moves, Astra Arcus will its increase 600-strong workforce by another 100.

'After considering several locations the real silicon valley for CNS is in the Boston area,' said a company spokesman.

A facility that initially will house the Astra Research Centre Boston will be built at Waltham, outside Boston, to continue research into peptic ulcer bacteria. A total investment of SKr600m has been approved for the first stage of the development. It is also likely to take on the CNS work from Rochester.

At Loughborough in the UK SKr600m will be spent on expanding the Astra Charnwood research unit and a pharmaceutical development laboratory.

A new pain control unit research facility will be built at Gärtuna, Södertälje in Sweden at a cost of SKr1.2bn. It is expected to be completed by 2000.

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