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AstraZeneca is a publicly traded global pharmaceutical company established in 1999 and headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The organization focuses on developing medicines for oncology and for diseases related to the cardiovascular system, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, respiratory conditions, and inflammatory disorders.
It also contributes to the field of neuroscience through research initiatives and the development of treatments for conditions affecting the central nervous system.
AstraZeneca is currently one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, employing nearly 80,000 direct and indirect workers.
Its international footprint spans more than 100 countries, including operations in Brazil since 1999.
The company maintains nine research and development centers located in:
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Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Gaithersburg, United States
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Gothenburg, Sweden
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South San Francisco, United States
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Boston, United States
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New York, United States
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Alderley Park and Macclesfield, United Kingdom
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Shanghai, China
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Osaka, Japan
The company also owns a subsidiary, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, which specializes in orphan drugs and treatments for rare diseases.
History and Foundation
AstraZeneca’s origins date back to 1913 with the founding of Astra AB in Södertälje, Sweden. However, the merger with Zeneca Group PLC in 1999 marked the creation of AstraZeneca PLC.
Following the merger, the company relocated its headquarters from London to Wilmington, in northern Delaware, United States.
That same year, AstraZeneca expanded into Brazil, opening a branch in Cotia, São Paulo, which houses both administrative and manufacturing facilities spanning 60,000 square meters.
In 2002, the company reached an important milestone when its drug “Iressa” was approved in Japan as a monotherapy for lung cancer patients.
Three years later, in 2005, AstraZeneca acquired KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, a U.K.-based biotechnology firm, for £120 million.
Another major acquisition took place in 2006, when the company purchased Cambridge Antibody Technology for £702 million.
Between 2007 and 2012, AstraZeneca executed a series of acquisitions, including:
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Therapeutics, focused on antiviral discovery
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MedImmune, developer of influenza vaccines and antiviral treatments
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Novexel Corp, an antibiotics company
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Guangdong BeiKang Pharmaceutical Company, a Chinese generics manufacturer
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Ardea Biosciences, a biotechnology company
In 2013, the company announced a major corporate restructuring, including the closure of research centers in the United Kingdom and Sweden.
In 2014, AstraZeneca rejected Pfizer’s final acquisition proposal, which valued the company at $117 billion.
In subsequent years, the company expanded significantly, entering multiple development agreements, opening new subsidiaries, and pursuing further acquisitions.
Beginning in 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, its proprietary vaccine further accelerated the company’s global visibility, operational scale, and market relevance.
Additional Information
The Company AstraZeneca PLC (United States), is listed on Nasdaq with a market value of $ 284.05 Billions, having an equity of $ 45.97 Billions.
With a total of 74.800 employees, the company is listed in the sector of Health Care and categorized in industry of Biotechnology.
In the last 12 months the Company had a revenue of $ 58.13 Billions, which generated a profit in the amount of $ 9.40 Billions.
As for its main indicators, the Company has a P/E ratio of 30.22, a P/BV ratio of 6.18 and in the last 12 months the dividend yield of AZN was at 1.71%.
The Company is traded internationally through the ticker AZN.
