AstraZeneca expands its Global Medicines Development (GMD) Centre in India
Gunjan Chauhan
Global science-led biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca officially opened its new Global Medicines Development (GMD) Centre in Bengaluru, India today. This unit is one of AstraZeneca’s nine GMD centres around the world that transform breakthrough molecules into medicines and monitor their use and safety. With this opening, India will now play an even bigger role in AstraZeneca’s global operations.
Globally, GMD works with AstraZeneca’s two biotech units – Innovative Medicines and Early Development (IMED) and MedImmune – and the Global Portfolio and Product Strategy (GPPS) organisation to understand where there is unmet medical need, to shape AstraZeneca’s therapy area strategies from early development through to commercialisation.
The GMD Bengaluru team will focus on supporting AstraZeneca’s medicines, which covers treatments across a range of therapy areas, including oncology, respiratory and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. GMD Bengaluru plays a key role supporting 51 of AstraZeneca’s mature brands which are used by patients around the world. During the last year, the team has recruited scientific experts in the fields of regulatory science, clinical, and patient safety, and has grown from 30 to 70 people. The expansion will see a further increase to more than 100 specialists. AstraZeneca India Private Limited (AZIPL), is a private entity, established in 1986, covering AZ’s Global Technology Centre (GTC) in Chennai with a workforce of more than 2400 employees. It also includes AstraZeneca’s science unit - Global Medicines Development Group (GMD), the clinical operations unit and the digital unit I.e. Global Commercial Operation within Global Business SThe new GMD offices are situated in Manyata Business Park, Outer Ring Road, Nagawara, Bengaluru.
His Excellency Klas Molin, Swedish Ambassador to India and Chief Guest for the inauguration stated, “Further to the bilateral innovation partnership between India and Sweden, we are pleased to bring more Swedish innovation into the country. The opening of AstraZeneca GMD unit in India is yet another promising step for strengthening this partnership for a sustainable future between Sweden and India.”
Ms. Elisabeth Björk VP, Global Medicines Development Unit Head for Cardiovascular, Metabolic Renal Diseases, AstraZenecapresent at the inauguration of the new GMD office space in Bengaluru said, “AstraZeneca has a long-standing commitment in India over 40 years. The GMD expansion is part of AstraZeneca’s continued commitment to enhance scientific innovation in the country and I am delighted to open our newest GMD site and to welcome our new colleagues to the AstraZeneca team".
Ms. Veena Rajan, GMD Site Lead Bengaluru, AstraZeneca India Private Limited stated, “We plan to recruit more physicians, scientists and regulatory experts to support the GMD Bengaluru, and continue to deliver value for our global mature brands in oncology, respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.”
Mr. Siva Padmanabhan, Centre Head, Global Technology Centre Chennai, AstraZeneca India Private Limited said, “The GMD expansion further strengthens AstraZeneca’s commitment to invest in scientific capabilities to deliver more effective medicines to help meet unmet treatment needs for patients around the world.”
