AstraZeneca - Key Facts - leading pharmaceutical companies, effective medicines

Key facts

AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, with a broad range of medicines designed to fight disease in important areas of healthcare.
Backed by strong science and wide-ranging commercial skills, we are committed to sustainable development of our business and the delivery of a flow of new medicines that make a difference in the lives of patients and create value for our shareholders and wider society.
We focus our resources on six therapy areas where we believe our skills and resources can make the most difference. These areas include some of the world's most serious illnesses and together represent a major worldwide burden of disease: cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience and respiratory & inflammation.
Our broad product portfolio includes many world leaders and a number of key products: Arimidex (cancer), Crestor (cardiovascular), Nexium (gastrointestinal disease), Seroquel (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) and Symbicort (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
With the acquisition of MedImmune, we have a world-class biologics and vaccines capability.
Active in over 100 countries with growing presence in important emerging markets; corporate office in London UK; major R&D sites in Sweden, the UK and the US.
We have over 67,000 employees (55% in Europe, 30% in the Americas and 15% Asia, Africa and Australasia).
Sales in 2007 totalled $29.6 billion, with an operating profit of $9 billion.
R&D spend in 2007 totalled more than $5 billion.
We employ around 13,000 people at 17 principal R&D centres in 8 countries.
We have 29 manufacturing sites in 20 countries.
Alongside our commitment to competitiveness and performance, we continue to be led by our core values to achieve sustainable success.