Exeter secures AstraZeneca partnership

The University of Exeter has announced a unique collaboration with the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, to conduct research into the effectiveness and safety of cutting-edge drugs.

The new partnership is hoped to reinforce Exeter’s burgeoning reputation as a world-leader in (eco) toxicological research as well as provide a significant boost for the South West economy, by securing a number of highly-skilled jobs on the University’s Streatham Campus and keeping valuable scientific knowledge within the region.

As well as studying the effects that potential new drugs, designed to treat major illnesses such as cancer and respiratory complaints may have on patients, the new research will also help combat potential consequences to the wider environment.

Professor Nick Talbot, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Exeter said “This innovative new partnership will strengthen Exeter’s reputation as a vibrant centre of ground-breaking ecotoxicology research.

“Our research is already making a difference across the world, in ensuring that we understand the fate of chemicals in the environment and how to help manufacture safe and environmentally responsible products.

“This new partnership with AstraZeneca will ensure we remain at the forefront of ecotoxicology and sustainability research with a recognised leader in the field.”

Under the terms of the collaboration, four scientists currently employed at AstraZeneca’s soon-to-close Brixham Environmental Laboratory site, together with a further scientist from Sweden and two PhD students will join world-leading research staff in the University’s College of Life and Environmental Science.

AstraZeneca last year announced it was closing the Brixham Environmental Laboratory, as the work was outside the organisation’s strategic focus.

The announcement of the partnership also comes amid expectation that the US pharmaceutical firm, Pfizer will to attempt a £67bn hostile takeover of AstraZencea which is causing concern for UK research jobs in the firm.

The takeover plan has been widely criticised by many outside observers, such as the former science minister Lord Sainsbury who siad the deal was a ploy to “dismember” the British Firm.

While Pfizer has pledged to keep at least 20% of the combined company's R&D workforce in the UK for at least five years, the American owned company  will not sign any legal documents to protect the 6,700 research jobs  AstraZeneca’s brings into the UK under this promise.

Lord Sainsbury has called on the Prime Minster, David Cameron to block the takeover deal.

Writing in the Guardian, Sainsbury said: "I am not in favour of the takeover of excellent and strategically important British companies by failing foreign companies whose actions are fuelled by tax avoidance, and who want to asset-strip the intellectual property of the British company and then dismember it,"

He added: "If he [David Cameron] lets AstraZeneca fall into the hands of Pfizer, many people will not forgive him – and will use the ballot box to make their feelings known."

It is unclear how developments surrounding Pfizer’s takeover could affect the new partnership with the University of Exeter but wider concerns persist surrounding the deals affect on UK jobs.

Steve Rumford, Global Head of Environment for AstraZeneca, said: “This partnership with the University of Exeter, will build on their global expertise in fish biology to provide early screening tools allowing AstraZeneca to assess its development compounds.”

Jason Snape, Principal Environmental Scientist and SHE Research Manager for AstraZeneca, said: “Exeter University and the research group of Professor Charles Tyler was our first choice to externalise AstraZeneca's strategic research efforts to explore the feasibility of greener drug design.

“This partnership will help maintain the South West of England as one of the global centres of excellence for (eco) toxicology research.”

The new partnership comes after AstraZeneca last year announced it was closing the Brixham Environmental Laboratory, as the work was outside the organisation’s strategic focus.

The work will use zebra fish to study where in the body the pharmaceuticals act, and how they affect health. Because a significant proportion of all medications make their way into the environment, the research will also monitor the effect any potential new medicine will have on it. The new AZ programmes will take place in the £9 million Aquatic Resources Centre – one of the biggest centres of its kind in Europe.

Charles Tyler, Professor of Environmental Biology at the University of Exeter said: “AstraZeneca is one of the world’s leading experts in pharmaceutical research and we hope this partnership will have far-reaching benefits for both parties.

“For new and existing drugs fast and efficient testing is becoming even more important in delivering solutions to patients as well as protecting the natural environment."

Steve Rumford, Global Head of Environment for AstraZeneca, said: “This partnership with the University of Exeter, will build on their global expertise in fish biology to provide early screening tools allowing AstraZeneca to assess its development compounds.”

Jason Snape, Principal Environmental Scientist and SHE Research Manager for AstraZeneca, said: “Exeter University and the research group of Professor Charles Tyler was our first choice to externalise AstraZeneca's strategic research efforts to explore the feasibility of greener drug design.

“This partnership will help maintain the South West of England as one of the global centres of excellence for (eco) toxicology research.”