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20 October 2014Big Pharma

AstraZeneca and Cambridge University in new life sciences partnership

Pharmaceutical and biologics company AstraZeneca (AZ) and the University of Cambridge have teamed up as part of a programme aimed at increasing life science-related research and teaching.

The programme consists of four initiatives and is being delivered by , its biologics arm MedImmune, and the university.

The collaboration covers neuroscience research, access for university researchers to important AZ compounds, a PhD programme to support future leaders in science and a new entrepreneur-in-residence programme.

MedImmune will provide support and advice on issues including drug and technology development, IP and securing investment, said AZ in a statement on Thursday (October 16).

The four new collaborations will build on AZ’s existing partnership with the university, while a separate three-year programme will focus on advancing research and development in neurodegenerative diseases.

Bahija Jallal, executive vice president at MedImmune, said it was “excited” to establish the “prestigious strategic alliance”.

“We will work together to discover and develop new medicines that could have a significant impact on the health of patients with neurodegenerative diseases and cancer,” Jallal added.

The research will be carried out at MedImmune and the University of Cambridge laboratories.