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Our R&D focus areas
Pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines
Unlocking the power of what science can do
At AstraZeneca, we focus on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology.
Our R&D groups are unified in their approach, and united in their purpose to deliver life-changing medicines to people who need them most. By collaborating internally and externally, we aim to accelerate the discovery of novel therapies for unmet medical needs. Learn more about our therapy areas below.
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In Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), we are transforming care for the millions of people affected by these often degenerative, debilitating, and life-threatening conditions
Our bold ambition is to stop, reverse and cure CVRM diseases by delivering innovative, life-changing medicines and solutions for patients.
To do this, we need to unravel the underlying causes of these diseases by identifying novel targets linked to disease biology to create the next generation of therapeutics. Scientific advances have revealed the interplay and potential causal relationships between these diseases, which often present in the same patient. We are also pioneering new approaches – from research, to engagement in the clinic, and beyond – in order to improve lives and address unmet needs.
With more than 70 therapies and therapy combinations in our early-to-late stage pipeline, we seek to use science and technology to combat life-threatening conditions. Our first-class scientific research today is setting the stage for our pioneering approach in the fields of disease regression and organ regeneration, putting us a step closer to making science fiction a reality.
Areas of interest include:
- Cardiovascular disease and heart failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Metabolism and liver disease
We collaborate with key experts throughout the world to accelerate our scientific progress, and to further define patient populations that may benefit from the novel cardio-renal-metabolic therapies we are developing.
Regina Fritsche Danielson
SVP and Head of Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca
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Transforming disease management and patient outcomes in respiratory and immune-mediated diseases
We are entering an era of unprecedented potential to deliver scientific breakthroughs in respiratory and immune-mediated diseases. Our ambition is to transform the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by driving earlier, biology-led treatment, eliminating preventable asthma attacks, and removing COPD as a top-three leading cause of death.
Underpinning chronic lung diseases is an altered immune system. AstraZeneca is following the science of common pathways and underlying disease drivers from respiratory disease into immune-mediated disease areas. We want to achieve disease modification and durable remission in these diseases for millions of patients worldwide.
Areas of interest include:
- Asthma
- COPD
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Chronic cough
- Rheumatology (including type 1 interferon-driven diseases such as lupus)
- Dermatology
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Inflammatory diseases driven by eosinophilic immune dysfunction
Respiratory and immunological diseases represent a main therapeutic area for AstraZeneca. Partnering with leading scientists helps us to accelerate the development of medicines that could potentially change the natural history of these diseases and lead to disease arrest, remission and cure.
Maria Belvisi
SVP, Head of Research and Early Development, Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca
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We are leading a revolution to redefine cancer care
We have a bold ambition to provide cures for cancer in every form. We are following the science to understand cancer and all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing treatments and increase the potential to save the lives of people around the world.
Our broad pipeline of next-generation medicines, together with our focus on excellence in execution, are aimed at expanding treatment options and improving outcomes for patients with solid tumours and haematological cancers.
Areas of interest include:
- Tumour drivers and resistance
- Immuno-oncology
- DNA damage response
- Antibody drug conjugates
- Epigenetics
- Cell therapies
AstraZeneca has a deep and broad oncology development programme to address unmet needs across a wide range of cancers. We have built a network of world-class collaborations and our Open Innovation approach complements our own efforts brilliantly.
Susan Galbraith
EVP, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca
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Opportunistic in Neuroscience and Microbial Science
We have medicines and vaccines in other disease areas that have an important impact for patients. As such, we are selectively active in the areas of neuroscience and microbial science, where we follow an opportunity-driven approach and often work through partnerships.
Neuroscience
With a rich heritage and a research and development focus on specific aspects of neurodegenerative diseases, analgesia and psychiatry, we continue to push the boundaries of science in neuroscience in collaboration with other innovative partners across industry and academia. A significant unmet medical need remains in the areas of cognitive disorders, chronic pain and other central nervous system disorders.
Microbial Science
We work to protect patients against the burden of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and bacterial infections, particularly those resistant to current antibiotics. Demand for health interventions to address these burdens of disease remains high and, through working with the wider infection community, we aim to translate science into solutions to address global challenges in these disease areas.
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