E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Life in the pharmaceutical Life in the pharmaceutical industryindustry
Elizabeth YoungLead Generation Biology
AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Presentation OverviewPresentation OverviewMy background
Motivation
AstraZeneca
Drug Discovery Process
A Life in the Day
Industry & AcademiaAdvantages & Disadvantages
A career @ AstraZenecaWhat is required?
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
My backgroundMy backgroundBSc Biological Sci (Hons) 1986-1989
Leicester University
Merck Sharp & Dohme 1989-1991Terlings Park
PhD Insulin signalling 1991-1994Bristol University
Parke-Davis 1994-2000Cambridge UK
AstraZeneca 2000-Loughborough
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Why industry?Why industry?
Application of biological sciences to development of product to meet medical need
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
AstraZeneca International AstraZeneca International
http://www.astrazeneca.com
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
AstraZeneca International AstraZeneca International
http://www.astrazeneca.com
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Facts & FiguresFacts & Figures
More than 65,000 employees worldwide*18% in the UK, 21% in Sweden, 21% in the US, 40% rest of the world
$15 million every working day on new medicines R&D*
14-18% sales re-invested in R&D$1 billion idea → market
*Source http://www.astrazeneca.com
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Drugs cost moneyDrugs cost money……1 in 10 drugs in Phase I clinical trials get to market33% marketed drugs do not breakevenBreakeven takes 5-7 yrs from launch1 in 10 marketed drugs is a Blockbuster
More than $1 billion of revenue pa– Lipitor $12b pa
Marketing & sales in 1st yr launch = total R&D spend on drug
4 HTS → 1 Lead Optimisation Project1 HTS >0.5 million compounds
Early failure desirableCost rises as project advances
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
AstraZeneca: People, Culture & ValuesAstraZeneca: People, Culture & ValuesPeople are “most valued resource”Development
Help employees deliver their best & achieve potentialTailored plans for the individualManagement supports learning & development
RewardNot only remunerationFlexibility is an important feature Introduction of choice
ValuesCommitment to Competitiveness & Performance
– Should not compromise Values– Integrity, high ethical standards– Respect individual & environment– Openness, honesty, trust & support each other– Leadership by example @ all levels
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
AstraZeneca: People, Culture & ValuesAstraZeneca: People, Culture & ValuesCommunication
Open & varied lines of communication– Business developments– Roles & targets aligned to Business
Feedback– 2-yearly global employee survey
LeadershipGlobal programmes
– Leadership capabilities– Management skills
WellbeingGlobal Health, Safety & Welfare initiatives
– Work/Life balance promoted– Flexible working
– Charnwood WellBeing Centre
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
AstraZeneca R&D CharnwoodAstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Situated on the edge of Loughborough NW Leicestershire28 ha site bordering open meadowland
R&D site– Respiratory & Inflammatory Research Areas
Loughborough’s 2nd largest employer – 1,200 staff– High local profile– Community projects
– “Groundforce” Day @ local children’s special school
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
GroundforceGroundforce Day @ ChildrenDay @ Children’’s Homes Home
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Drug Discovery ProcessDrug Discovery Process
Pre-CDLead OptimisationHitIdentification
LeadIdentification
Target Identification& Validation
Clinical Dev & Trials Market
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Lead Generation ProcessLead Generation Process
DISCOVERY DEVELOPMENT
1 2 3 4 5 6 8 97
PrincipleTest.
ConceptTest.
Dev. ForLaunch
LaunchPhase
ProductLCM
CDPre.
LeadOpt.
LeadId.
HitId.
TargetId.
1 2 2.5 3 4 5TG
MS
Lead GenerationLead Generation
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
Lead Generation TermsLead Generation TermsActive
Compound showing activity in a specific target screenOften the output of an HTS
– X % efficacy @ 10 μM
Hit (the basis of an Lead Identification project)Compound with confirmed structure & purity having clear concentration-response activity in follow up screens IC50 10 μM (pIC50 5.0) in a cell-based assay
Lead (the basis of an Lead Optimisation project)Compound amenable to chemical modifications resulting in improved activity & selectivityOne of a set of related compounds displaying a Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR)
– IC50 0.1 μM (pIC50 7.0) in a cell-based assay– Suitable for oral dosing as an investigative tool
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
A life in the dayA life in the day……Laboratory
Compounds arriveAssemble assay
– E.g. cells + compoundsCapture dataAssay development
OfficeData analysisWrite-up & uploadDiscussion with colleaguesSelect compounds for progressionLiterature searchingNew project ideasMeetings
– Team, project, dept, safety etc
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
AdvantagesAdvantagesApplied Research
End product Working towards improving people’s QoL
FacilitiesEquipmentGlobal Compound, Reagents & Data collections
Multidisciplinary environment
Commercial environment
BudgetsNo grant applications
New projects
CompensationChoice
– Cash + pension, retail & childcare vouchers, bikes, holiday……
Flexible workingPerformance bonus
– Cash– Shares
Career opportunitieswomen (& men) with familiesDiverse opportunities (e.g.lab & non-lab based)
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
DisadvantagesDisadvantages
Commercial environment
Mergers & Acquisitions
Budgets
Changing projects
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
A career @ AstraZenecaA career @ AstraZeneca
What is required?1st or 2.1 degree &/or PhD
– appropriate subjectPractical experience
– Sandwich year– Work experience
Hugely competitive3 posts, >100 applicants
http://www.astrazeneca.com
E A Young AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood
The 100The 100thth Charnwood HTS: rewarding effortCharnwood HTS: rewarding effort
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