New medicines are our lifeblood at AstraZeneca—both small molecule and biological products that address the unanswered needs challenging patients, families, and caregivers.
Product development in the pharmaceutical environment is a long and complex process—taking upwards of 10 years, consuming many resources, and ultimately requiring safety and efficacy in preclinical and clinical settings. Early research on thousands of compounds is winnowed down until just a handful of products are developed over time. Research is terminated wherever compounds aren’t sufficiently effective in treating the target disease or they present unacceptable side effects.
Our clinical trials are guided by global standards and by our concern for the lives of the patients who put their trust in us. A clinical trial is conducted only after we’ve gathered satisfactory safety and efficacy information from preclinical research and have filed the required applications with our regulators. We’re not only working to protect trial participants from unnecessary risks. We’re also making certain that those who participate in our trials fully understand what clinical trial participation means—before they give their consent—and that their participation is guarded by strict privacy policies.