What began as a clinical trial center for rare diseases is now paving the way to become a ‘hub’ of world reference in medical research and innovation in general. At least, that is the intention of those responsible: AstraZeneca has laid the first stone this Wednesday to transform the space that was launched less than a year ago through its subsidiary Alexionin a international R&D center let it be the European reference for pharmaceuticals at an internal level and to research and develop solutions for the entire group worldwide.
This means that the center that the company has announced this week, in which it plans to invest 800 million euros, will be located in the building of the upper part of the Diagonal where Alexion has been operating for a few months, right in front of the Plaza de la Reina Maria Cristina. Currently, the group has a plant occupied by around 90 people and their idea is to gradually gain more space within the same building until they can accommodate the 1,000 workers they hope to have in five years.
As explained in the official presentation of the ‘hub’ who will be the person in charge, Gonzalo de Miquelthe team will consist of both health scientists (biologists, pharmacists…), as well as expert profiles in interrelated areas such as data science or the information analysis. As a reference, this same manager explained that “today the team is already very diverse: with local and national talent, but also professionals from more than 20 countries.” In addition, he has highlighted, two out of three senior management positions are held by women.
And what will these professionals do here? “Innovate in healthdevelop new solutions for unmet needsmeet new treatments for patients and improve access to them within the five main therapeutic areas of our company”, responded at the beginning of the act the President of AtraZeneca in Spain, Rick R. Suarez. These are related to the renal and cardiovascular systemlos respiratory problemsthe oncologylas rare diseases and the immunotherapy and the vaccines.
First clinical trial
Thus, as de Miquel has specified later, the plan is to incorporate development teams in other specialties beyond the rare diseases that Alexion already addresses, as well as increase its presence in more transversal areas such as clinical pharmacologythe biometricsthe digital health and the overall innovation.
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“Our vision is that this center becomes a cworld reference center for research and innovation”, this person in charge has confessed. “Here they will coordinate and lead projects with a global impact,” he assured. As an example: the pivotal clinical trial (one that is undertaken to request the approval of a drug from the health authorities) that AstraZeneca is going to lead imminently from Barcelona for the first time.
“I am sure that there will be many more projects in the future”, he concluded. “In this way, we will not only increase the number of clinical studies, but we will carry out studies in earlier and more relevant phases, and that will allow progress in science and medicine from spain towards the world”.