Headquarters: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Ticker: AZN (NASDAQ/LSE)
Website: astrazeneca.com
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company has a significant neuroscience research program, with active development in Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders[1].
AstraZeneca was formed in 1999 through the merger of Zeneca Group PLC (spun off from Imperial Chemical Industries) and Swedish Astra AB. The company has grown to become one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, with operations in over 100 countries[2].
AstraZeneca maintains an active Parkinson's disease research program focused on LRRK2 kinase inhibition and alpha-synuclein targeting[3].
| Program | Mechanism | Stage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZD-5004 | LRRK2 inhibitor | Phase 1 | Clinical |
| AZD-2950 | Alpha-synuclein | Preclinical | Research |
| AZD-1234 | Neuroprotection | Discovery | Research |
Recent Developments:
AstraZeneca has early-stage research programs in Alzheimer's disease targeting neuroinflammation and protein clearance pathways[4].
| Program | Mechanism | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| AZD-3293 | BACE inhibitor | Discontinued |
| AZD-4012 | Neuroinflammation | Preclinical |
AstraZeneca collaborates with academic institutions and biotechnology companies on neuroscience research:
Parkinson's Disease Treatment
LRRK2 in PD
Alpha-Synuclein Pathology
PD Pipeline Companies
Jack A. The making of AstraZeneca. BMJ. 2007. ↩︎
Blandini F, et al. LRRK2 and Parkinson's disease: from pathogenesis to therapeutic targeting. Movement Disorders. 2020. ↩︎
Long JM, Holtzman DM. Alzheimer disease: an update on pathobiology and treatment strategies. Cell. 2019. ↩︎
Mata IF, et al. LRRK2: a common pathway in Parkinson's disease and a promising therapeutic target. Neurobiology of Disease. 2023. ↩︎
Bridi JC, et al. Alpha-synuclein: from pathological aggregation to neuroprotective therapy. Neuropharmacology. 2022. ↩︎
Heneka MT, et al. [Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease](https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(15). Lancet Neurology. 2015. ↩︎
Jankovic J, Tan EK. Parkinson's disease: etiopathogenesis and treatment. Journal of Parkinson's Disease. 2020. ↩︎