Sahlgrenska University Hospital and AstraZeneca in partnership for future healthcare and innovative medicines

Sahlgrenska University Hospital and AstraZeneca are establishing a strategic partnership to further strengthen the life science sector, in western Sweden and throughout the country. The collaboration will promote the development of innovative medicines and make them available to patients faster.

Initially, the focus will be on three areas of co-operation: staff exchange, support for clinical trials and education.

”The strategic partnership strengthens our efforts to become the leading university hospital in Europe. Sahlgrenska University Hospital has a long history of collaboration with AstraZeneca in research and innovation. Now we are taking the next step together. The results of this collaboration will benefit our patients and the entire life science sector,” says Boubou Hallberg, Hospital Director at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

AstraZeneca has one of its global strategic research centres in Gothenburg, which has the ambition to become one of the world’s best research and development facilities. The company sees great benefits in establishing a partnership with Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

“In order for more patients to have faster access to new, innovative medicines, we need collaboration between industry and healthcare. Therefore, it is extremely gratifying that we are now initiating this collaboration with Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Together we can strengthen both healthcare and the development of new medicines,” says Regina Fritsche Danielson, Global Head of Research and Early Development in Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases at AstraZeneca, and Site Lead at the R&D facility in Gothenburg.

Focus areas for the collaboration between Sahlgrenska University Hospital and AstraZeneca:

1. Staff exchange. The collaboration can enable an exchange where employees can spend time working and operating within the other organisation. There are good opportunities for knowledge exchange and for increased understanding of our different challenges. It can also increase the attractiveness of working in West Sweden.
2. Support for clinical trials. We want to facilitate the recruitment of patients to clinical trials based on the whole region. With more studies, the development of innovative medicines is promoted and new treatments reach patients faster. Region Västra Götaland with Sahlgrenska University Hospital is a leader in clinical research, according to the Swedish Research Council’s annual evaluation, with a strong infrastructure and a tradition of close collaboration with academia and industry that we are now building on.
3. Education. Together, we want to offer an academic leadership programme for senior managers and leaders across the life sciences sector who want to develop further to take the next career step. The programme will raise the bar for qualified management roles and strengthen the attractiveness of the life sciences sector, ultimately benefiting patients.

Media contacts:
Sahlgrenska University Hospital Press Office
press.su@vgregion.se, 031-342 96 00

Karl-Johan Karlsson, Press Officer, AstraZeneca
karl-johan.karlsson@astrazeneca.com, 0735-801268