AstraZeneca Purchases US Biologics Manufacturing Facility to Support Growing Pipeline

WILMINGTON, Del.--()--AstraZeneca today added to its biologics manufacturing capability in the US with the purchase of a high-tech biologics bulk manufacturing facility from Amgen Inc. Over time, the LakeCentre facility, located in Boulder, Colorado will increase manufacturing and production capacity to support the company’s extensive portfolio of biologics medicines.

AstraZeneca plans to start staffing the facility immediately to support refurbishment and infrastructure improvements. Once complete, the site is expected to be operational and licensed for commercial production by late 2017, providing for additional capacity within the company’s biologics operations.

In the longer- term, this site could create up to 400 highly skilled jobs, subject to relevant approvals by the local authorities. The facility will eventually double the biologics manufacturing capacity in the US to meet the needs of the maturing AstraZeneca pipeline. Currently biologics make up 50 percent of the company’s pipeline with more than 120 ongoing programmes, including over 30 in clinical development.

Pam Cheng, Executive Vice-President, Operations and Information Technology at AstraZeneca, said: “The addition of the Boulder facility will support the progression of biotech drug candidates across our main therapeutic areas as we continue to bring innovative new treatments to patients. This site will play an important role in our future commercial production and give AstraZeneca and MedImmune, our global biologics research and development arm, the flexibility and capacity to meet the needs of our rapidly growing biologics portfolio.”

The new facility in Boulder adds to the expansion of AstraZeneca’s biologics manufacturing capabilities, following the planned biologics manufacturing investment in Sweden, announced in May, and the expansion in Frederick, Maryland, announced in November 2014.

The financial details were not disclosed. This investment does not impact AstraZeneca’s financial guidance for 2015.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com

Contacts

AstraZeneca
Media Enquiries
Esra Erkal-Paler, UK/Global, +44 20 7604 8030
Vanessa Rhodes, UK/Global, +44 20 7604 8037
Ayesha Bharmal, UK/Global, +44 20 7604 8034
Karen Birmingham, UK/Global, +44 20 7604 8120
Jacob Lund, Sweden, +46 8 553 260 20
Michele Meixell, US, +1 302-885-2677
or
Investor Enquiries
UK

Thomas Kudsk Larsen, Oncology, +44 20 7604 8199, +44 7818 524185
Eugenia Litz, RIA, +44 20 7604 8233, +44 7884 735627
Nick Stone, CVMD, +44 20 7604 8236, +44 7717 618834
Craig Marks, ING, +44 20 7604 8591, +44 7881 615764
Christer Gruvris, +44 20 7604 8126, +44 7827 836825
US
Lindsey Trickett, Oncology, ING, +1 301-398-5118, +1 240-543-7970
Dial / Toll-Free, +1 301-398-3251, +1 866-381-7277
Key: RIA - Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, CVMD - Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, ING - Infection, Neuroscience and Gastrointestinal

Contacts

AstraZeneca
Media Enquiries
Esra Erkal-Paler, UK/Global, +44 20 7604 8030
Vanessa Rhodes, UK/Global, +44 20 7604 8037
Ayesha Bharmal, UK/Global, +44 20 7604 8034
Karen Birmingham, UK/Global, +44 20 7604 8120
Jacob Lund, Sweden, +46 8 553 260 20
Michele Meixell, US, +1 302-885-2677
or
Investor Enquiries
UK

Thomas Kudsk Larsen, Oncology, +44 20 7604 8199, +44 7818 524185
Eugenia Litz, RIA, +44 20 7604 8233, +44 7884 735627
Nick Stone, CVMD, +44 20 7604 8236, +44 7717 618834
Craig Marks, ING, +44 20 7604 8591, +44 7881 615764
Christer Gruvris, +44 20 7604 8126, +44 7827 836825
US
Lindsey Trickett, Oncology, ING, +1 301-398-5118, +1 240-543-7970
Dial / Toll-Free, +1 301-398-3251, +1 866-381-7277
Key: RIA - Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, CVMD - Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, ING - Infection, Neuroscience and Gastrointestinal