Zeneca

Zeneca was a British multinational pharmaceutical company, established in 1993 through the demerger of the pharmaceutical operations from ICI. It was later merged with the Swedish company Astra AB in 1999 to form AstraZeneca.

History

Zeneca was formed in June 1993 by the demerger of the pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals businesses of ICI into a separate company. The decision to demerge was taken due to the increasing divergence between the business models of the pharmaceutical and bulk chemicals businesses. The demerger was also part of a broader trend of companies spinning off their pharmaceutical operations to focus on core businesses.

In 1999, Zeneca and Astra AB announced their intention to merge, with the new company to be called AstraZeneca. The merger was completed in April 1999, creating the third largest pharmaceutical company in the world.

Products

Zeneca developed and marketed a wide range of pharmaceutical products. These included oncology drugs such as tamoxifen, used in the treatment of breast cancer, and Zoladex, used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It also produced cardiovascular drugs such as Atenolol, used in the treatment of high blood pressure, and Seloken, used in the treatment of angina and heart failure.

Research and Development

Zeneca was known for its strong commitment to research and development. It invested heavily in the development of new drugs and treatments, with a particular focus on oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and gastroenterology. Its research efforts led to the development of several breakthrough drugs, including the first selective estrogen receptor modulator, tamoxifen.

Legacy

The legacy of Zeneca continues in the form of AstraZeneca, which has become one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. Many of the drugs developed by Zeneca continue to be marketed by AstraZeneca and are used in the treatment of a wide range of conditions.