Personalised healthcare: transforming the way we use medicine

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Can ‘drag and drop’ cancer simulation speed up drug discovery?

New ‘drag and drop’ computer modelling of key signalling pathways in cancer cells may dramatically reduce the need for ‘wet’ lab experiments to bring truly personalised treatment to patients. Drug discovery scientists at AstraZeneca are starting to use a cloud-based simulation tool, BioModel Analyzer, to bring alive the millions of potential changes in cell signalling that make cancer cells multiply uncontrollably. This ground-breaking advance in drug discovery methods is the result of a highly successful collaboration between AstraZeneca’s IMED Biotech Unit and Microsoft. The initial focus of the IMED-Microsoft collaboration has been on a type of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

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Latest press releases

AstraZeneca presents new data on Faslodex in breast cancer and provides immuno-oncology update at ESMO 2016 congress

 

 

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AstraZeneca provides update on cediranib EU marketing authorisation application

 

 

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Phase III combination trial of Bydureon and Forxiga shows significant benefits in patients with type-2 diabetes


 

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Featured news

Liquid biopsy: plasma ctDNA testing moves into mainstream cancer treatment

This week, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a cutting edge plasma-based test, known as a ‘liquid biopsy’, that can identify non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutations. The new test helps break down a significant barrier for lung cancer patients in the US. Up to now, physicians have relied on a fresh biopsy, or tumour tissue sample taken at the time of disease progression, to detect resistance mutations, such as T790M, in the EGFR gene and match patients to suitable treatment. The need for non-invasive testing is particularly acute when detecting resistance mutations, where up to 40% of patients may find it impossible to donate a tissue sample, because tumours are hard to reach or patients are not well enough to undergo biopsy.

Professor David Goldstein to lead AstraZeneca’s genomics initiative as Chief Adviser

AstraZeneca is pleased to announce that Professor David Goldstein will join the Company in the consultative role of Chief Adviser, Genomics to lead its integrated genomics initiative, which was announced in April. This 10-year initiative will focus on the discovery of new targets and biomarkers linked to molecular mechanisms of disease across AstraZeneca’s main therapy areas. Professor Goldstein will continue in his full-time role as Director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine, John E. Borne Professor and Professor of Genetics and Development at Columbia University Medical Center. He is renowned for his research on human genetic diversity, the genetics of disease and pharmacogenetics and will be responsible for driving the scientific progress of AstraZeneca’s genomics initiative, created to transform drug discovery and development across the entire research and development pipeline.

Innovative pancreatic research expands treatment horizons for people with type 2 diabetes

New understanding of how hormone-producing cells in the pancreas decode their genetic instructions is pointing to novel targets for next generation medicines for type 2 diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders.
A large scale analysis of gene expression in individual islet cells of the pancreas suggests insulin-producing beta cells are not the only sub-class of cells important for glucose control and diabetes treatment as previously thought. The research, carried out at the AstraZeneca/ Karolinska Insitutet Integrated Cardiometabolic Center (ICMC), Stockholm, Sweden, has shown that other types of islet cells, notably alpha and delta, may also play a significant role.

Peripheral Patients? PAD (peripheral arterial disease) Policy Initiative

A guest blog post by Dr. Tony Hockley, Visiting Senior Fellow, Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). LSE is developing a white paper on PAD funded by and in collaboration with AstraZeneca. PAD is a disease that affects around 202 million people worldwide1 and puts a significant strain on health and economic systems yet awareness remains low and sub-optimal care is an issue.

Patients at the core of partnership

Commentary by Jennie Younger, Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, on Dr. Tony Hockley’s post on PAD (peripheral arterial disease).

A game-changing scientific collaboration: Charles River and AstraZeneca

“There are still patients out there with unmet clinical need, waiting for new medicines. That’s how important this is.” AstraZeneca and Charles River share a passion for ground-breaking scientific research. Our partnership is focused on accelerating the delivery of new medicines. Watch our video to find out more about our success to date.

Opening up a treasure trove of new drug target opportunities - By using novel boronic acid chemistry our scientists have generated covalent inhibitors of Mcl-1, a notoriously difficult and key target in oncology.

For the first time, scientists from our Innovative Medicines & Early Development (IMED) Biotech Unit have shown that it is possible to inhibit high value protein-protein interaction (PPIs) drug targets, such as Mcl-1, through the use of novel lysine targeting covalent warheads. 

AstraZeneca recognised as a leader in 2016 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)

AstraZeneca has been named a sustainability leader within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Life Sciences industry of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). The company’s score of 86% is an improvement of two points from 2015, and only three points behind the 2016 industry leader.
 
In this year’s DJSI assessment, AstraZeneca made a significant improvement in the environmental dimension of this index, gaining 18 percentage points, and were awarded sector-best scores in Code of Conduct (100%), Marketing Practices (93%), Climate Strategy (100%), Occupational Health & Safety (88%) and Health Outcomes Contribution (100%).

Page Atlas ID: 970733.011.
Date of next review: April 2017