Releases
MedImmune establishes collaboration with São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP, to identify new early research projects in Brazil
MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, today announced that it has entered into a new five year Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement with the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), an independent public foundation with the mission to foster research and the scientific and technological development of the State of São Paulo in Brazil. This collaboration, which is the result of a cross-functional effort among MedImmune, AstraZeneca Brazil, and the State of São Paulo, will focus on identifying and accessing the best science and scientists in the cardiovascular and metabolic disease areas at São Paulo’s public and private research institutions.
Through the collaboration, the organizations seek to discover scientific breakthroughs in basic and traslational research in order to provide a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and to apply this knowledge towards the development of novel and differentiated medicines for patients.
Through the new agreement, FAPESP will issue a public request for proposals in the cardiovascular and metoabolic disease areas (en/9337). Selection of any projects will be made by a scientific committee comprised of representatives from both MedImmune and FAPESP. Under the terms of the agreement, the organizations will contribute up to two million dollars each to fund selected research projects over the course of the five year agreement.
“Cardiovasular and metabolic disease is a key therapeutic area for MedImmune, and we are pleased to enter this exciting new research agreement with FAPESP to find and access some of the most innovative science in the São Paulo area, a region ripe in metabolic expertise and innovation,” said Cristina Rondinone, Vice President and Head of MedImmune’s Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease (CVMD) Innovative Medicines Unit. “Partnering with academia to identify and qualify new targets and underlying biology is critical in translating discoveries to create innovative new medicines in areas of high unmet medical need.”
"The agreement allows FAPESP offer to the research community in São Paulo opportunities to develop research geared to applications and in collaboration with industry. AstraZeneca specifically has substantial internal research and values the quality of the research that exists in São Paulo,” said Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, scientific director of FAPESP.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global biopharmaceutical company guided by innovation, with main focus on discovery, development and trade of prescription drugs in the following therapeutic lines: cardiovascular, metabolic, immunologic, respiratory, inflammation, oncology, infection and neuroscience. AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries; its innovative drugs are used by millions of patients across the whole world. For more information, visit: www.astrazeneca.com.
About MedImmune
MedImmune is the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule and biologic prescription medicines. MedImmune is pioneering innovative research and exploring novel pathways across key therapeutic areas, including respiratory, inflammation and autoimmunity; cardiovascular and metabolic disease; oncology; neuroscience; and infection and vaccines. The MedImmune headquarters is located in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZeneca’s three global R&D centers. For more information, please visit www.medimmune.com.
About FAPESP
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting science and technology research and development in the state of São Paulo. FAPESP supports research projects in all fields of knowledge submitted by researchers associated with institutions of higher education and research in the state of São Paulo. Project selection is conducted through peer review, the methodology based on reviews issued by Brazilian and foreign researchers not associated with the Foundation. In 2014, the Foundation disbursed $512 million in funding to science and technology research projects. For more information: www.fapesp.br
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Susannah Budington, MedImmune
Tracy Rossin, MedImmune
Fernando Cunha, FAPESP
55 11 3838-4151
Samuel Antenor, FAPESP
55 11 3838-4381