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AstraZeneca
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AstraZeneca

British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, one of the UK's largest private R&D investors.

AstraZeneca is a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge. On 4 September 2026 it moved C4X Discovery's licensed compound AZD4916 into a Phase 1 trial, triggering a $13m milestone payment to the smaller firm.

Last refreshed: 22 September 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Timeline for AstraZeneca

#15 4 Sept

Advanced licensed compound AZD4916 into a Phase 1 trial

UK Startups and Innovation: C4X banks $13m as AstraZeneca doses
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Background

AstraZeneca is a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company dual-listed in London and Stockholm, with global headquarters in Cambridge. The company formed in 1999 through the merger of Sweden's Astra AB and the UK's Zeneca Group, itself demerged from ICI in 1993. In November 2021 it opened the £1bn Discovery Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, now the UK's largest research facility by number of scientists.

AstraZeneca licenses drug candidates from smaller UK biotechs alongside its own pipeline. On 4 September 2026 it moved C4X Discovery's compound AZD4916 into a Phase 1 trial, triggering a $13m milestone payment to C4X under a licence worth up to $400m.

As the UK's largest pharmaceutical company by market value, AstraZeneca is a central buyer of licensed IP from Britain's smaller drug-discovery firms and AIM-listed biotechs, anchoring the Cambridge life-sciences cluster that underpins government growth strategy for the sector.

Common Questions
What is AZD4916 and why did AstraZeneca pay C4X Discovery for it?
AZD4916 is a drug compound AstraZeneca licensed from C4X Discovery. AstraZeneca moved it into a Phase 1 trial on 4 September 2026, triggering a $13m milestone payment under a licence worth up to $400m plus royalties.Source: event
Where is AstraZeneca's UK headquarters?
AstraZeneca's global headquarters and its Discovery Centre research facility are on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, England.
When was AstraZeneca formed?
AstraZeneca was formed in 1999 through the merger of Sweden's Astra AB and the UK's Zeneca Group.
How much has AstraZeneca invested in its Cambridge research centre?
AstraZeneca invested about £1bn in its Discovery Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which opened in November 2021 and is the UK's largest research facility by scientist headcount.