AstraZeneca ‘a powerhouse of north-west economy’

At the launch of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of research and development laboratories at Alderly Park, secretary of state for trade and industry Alistair Darling has proclaimed AstraZeneca to be a “power-house” of the economy in north-west England.

Alderly Park was first purchased in 1950, with construction beginning in 1955 and the first laboratories opened at the start of October 1957. The most recent investment to the site has been the establishment of a cancer research area facility last year worth 60 million pounds.

Guests present at the celebratory event included a number of representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, academia, the local community and government, with a keynote speech from Nobel Prize winner Professor Sir James Black.

Speaking at the event, Mr Darling said: “AstraZeneca is a power-house of the north-west economy and a world leader in medical research – creating vital new medicines, generating thousands of jobs and billions in investment.”

He added that the efforts undertaken at the research facility had played a key role in the battle against cancer and heart disease over the past half-century, with the firm continuing to contribute to the regeneration of the north-west.

In February 2007, AstraZeneca announced that it is to invest $120 million (59.91 million pounds) in a process research and development laboratory at its site in Macclesfield.