Our history

Launch of the Partnership for Health System Sustainability & Resilience (PHSSR) with London School of Economics and World Economic Forum. We are later joined by partners KPMG, Philips, WHO Foundation, and the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation.

We announce an agreement with the University of Oxford for the global development and distribution of a vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection from SARS-CoV-2. We commit to doing this at no profit during the pandemic, and to provide broad and equitable supply around the world.

Establishment of Sweden Biologics Manufacturing Center in Södertälje, Sweden.

We enter into an agreement with Daiichi Sankyo to develop and commercialise cancer medicines.

Acquisition of Bristol Myers Squibb’s share of the diabetes alliance reinforcing our long-term commitment to patients with diabetes.

Launch of Healthy Heart Africa, our programme committed to tackling hypertension and the increasing burden of cardiovascular disease, with the ambition to reach 10 million people with elevated blood pressure across Africa by 2025.

Open Innovation programme launched, enabling better research links with academia, industry, NGOs and governments.

Gaithersburg, MD, US becomes one of our strategic R&D centres.

We set out our strategy to achieve scientific leadership, return to growth and ensure AstraZeneca is a great place to work.

Young Health Programme launched; a global disease prevention programme with a unique focus on young people aged 10 to 24, living in vulnerable environments and under-resourced settings around the world.

We acquire Cambridge Antibody Technology and, in 2007, MedImmune, giving us a leading position in biologics technology.

We acquire KuDOS Pharmaceuticals further enhancing our Oncology area.

Astra AB and Zeneca PLC merge to form AstraZeneca PLC.

Zeneca group establishes its first presence in China.

ICI demerges its pharmaceuticals business, forming Zeneca Group PLC.

Alexion founded in New Haven, CT, US.

Sir James W. Black, discoverer of the beta-blocker and employee of ICI Pharmaceuticals, receives the Nobel prize for medicine.

Astra strikes deal with the MSD to co-operate in the US.

Astra opens manufacturing centre in Gärtuna, Sweden.

AI Pharma K.K. established in Japan.

ICI expands into the US with the acquisition of Atlas Industrial Chemicals.

ICI opens its factory in Macclesfield, UK.

ICI establishes ICI Pharmaceuticals building on its successful involvement in the development of penicillin.

Astra Draco R&D site established in Lund, Sweden.

Astra Hässle R&D site established in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) is founded in the UK. For much of its history, ICI was one of the largest manufacturers in the UK.

Astra AB is founded in Södertälje, Sweden by a group of doctors and apothecaries.