Company Profile Astra: analysis of patenting 1993 - 1996

Abstract

Strong and consistent growth over the past five years characterises Astra's performance, both in terms of patenting, development candidates and financial performance. A former excess of licensed-in candidates has now been corrected, partly as a result of the Fisons acquisition. New product discovery activity is dominated by research into neurologicals, based in the Uk and Us; research in Sweden is primarily concerned with anti-ulcers - follow-ups to omeprazole. There is heavy patenting of formulations, again dominated by omeprazole, and of devices for drug administration, particularly in relation to respiratory products.