As a company whose success is built on leading-edge science, it is essential that AstraZeneca continuously monitors new capabilities and identifies opportunities that will help us to develop the next generation of medicines that offers better results for patients.

We believe that human embryonic stem cell research may present such an opportunity. Because this is a relatively new area for us and because we do not yet have all the necessary skills and technologies in-house, we are working with external partners to explore the potential of this type of research.

The potential benefits
Our interest is in the potential of cells from human embryonic stem cell lines to differentiate into normal human cells, such as hepatocytes (liver cells) and cardiac myocytes (heart muscle cells). If this were possible, such cells could be used to evaluate what effect a potential new medicine has on the normal cell, and to provide a more accurate prediction of drug metabolism and safety profiles in man. We believe this would represent a significant step forward in increasing the human relevance of studies at an earlier stage of development of a potential new medicine and would help us to overcome the current limitations that a restricted supply of normal cells presents.

Ensuring high standards
Our commitment to ensuring high ethical standards in this area of research is reflected in our Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy framework, as set out in our Bioethics Policy, which demands compliance both with external legislation, regulations and guidelines, and with our own codes of research practice.

The framework applies to all internal work and external research on AstraZeneca’s behalf and includes essential criteria that must be met before any such research is undertaken. Similar to those that govern inclusion in public stem cell registries such as the UK Registry and the US National Institute of Health Registry, these criteria require that the stem cells must have been derived from a fertilised egg that was created for reproductive purposes; that the fertilised egg must no longer be needed for these purposes, and that fully informed consent (with no financial inducements) must have been obtained for the donation of the fertilised egg for scientific research.

The framework is designed to ensure that all research effort in this area remains consistent with our strategy of developing more effective, safer medicines for serious disease.

We are not involved, or expressing any interest in genetic modification or cloning of human embryonic stem cells to repair damaged or diseased tissue.

Human reproductive cloning
AstraZeneca is not involved in any research on human reproductive cloning on which there is an international ban as set out by UNESCO and most national legislations.

The content of this page was externally assured by Bureau Veritas, February 2008