AstraZeneca to close UK research centre with
`1,200 job losses
`
`• Move threatens to undermine UK as research leader
`pharmaceutical investment
`
`• Innovation minister says Britain still attractive for
`
`Nick Mathiason
`Tuesday 2 March 2010 15.54 EST
`Drug firm AstraZeneca is to close a research centre in the UK with the loss of up to 1,200 jobs in a
`move that threatens to undermine the UK's position as a leader in pharmaceutical research and
`development.
`
`The AstraZeneca site in Charnwood, near Loughborough in Leicestershire, will close next year. A
`smaller facility in Cambridge will also shut. The cuts are part of 8,000 worldwide job losses
`announced by the firm in January.
`
`AstraZeneca is Loughborough's second-biggest employer after the local university. The 69-acre
`site specialises in research into finding medicines for respiratory diseases, such as asthma,
`chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
`
`Linda McCulloch, the Unite union's national officer for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry,
`said: "This is a devastating blow to the workforce at Loughborough. The closure of this site will
`damage the UK's pharmaceutical research and development capabilities."
`
`The innovation minister, Lord Drayson, said: "I'm obviously disappointed that AstraZeneca is
`closing Charnwood, but the announcement that Alderley Park will become one of AZ's top three
`global R&D sites shows that the UK remains an attractive location for investment in
`pharmaceuticals."
`
`In recent years, the firm has spent an estimated £100m expanding the Loughborough site, which
`was set up by Fisons in 1993 and then bought by Swedish firm Astra two years later. Astra merged
`with the British-based Zeneca Group in 1999.
`
`In a statement, the firm said: "The proposed changes, first outlined at the end of January, include
`focusing research efforts on a smaller number of disease areas and consolidating activities on to a
`reduced global footprint through the merger of some sites."
`
`The company said it was also interested in selling its Arrow Therapeutics business, which
`occupies a small facility in London.
`
`In other changes, the firm said pharmaceutical development work at the Avlon facility near
`Bristol will end, with some roles transferring to Macclesfield or Alderley Park in Cheshire.
`
`The number of people working in research and development at Alderley Park, the company's
`
`Complex Ex. 1009, pt. 2 of 2
`
`1
`
`

`

`largest UK R&D site, will increase as employees transfer from other sites. A total of 3,500 R&D
`jobs will be cut across the world, including the UK, Sweden and the US.
`
`Anders Ekblom, executive vice president of development at AstraZeneca, said: "We have made
`real strides in improving our efficiency in recent years, but there is a continuing need to adapt our
`organisation in anticipation of future challenges. These proposed changes will help us create a
`more focused, innovative and productive company. I am also acutely aware that these proposed
`changes will have a significant impact on our people and we are committed to providing support
`to them."
`
`More news
`Topics
`AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals industry
`
`Save for later Article saved
`Reuse this content
`
`2
`
`