AstraZeneca and Pharmaron have formed a multi-year drug discovery partnership to support AZ’s global Innovative Medicines Units. Pharmaron will provide AZ with discovery services in the areas of chemistry, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), and efficacy screening, conducting these services with a team consisting of several hundred scientists in dedicated research laboratories located in its newly opened drug discovery service center in Beijing.

The co-location of screening and chemistry services at a single partner is expected to help AZ scientists drive their drug discovery programs with greater efficiency, according to a Pharmaron statement. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Manos Perros, head of Infection iMed and sponsor of the collaboration for AZ, said, “We are pleased to enter this strategic partnership with Pharmaron which we believe will help us progress projects through our R&D pipeline more efficiently. Pharmaron scientists will be integrated into our project teams and play an important role in helping us fulfill our commitment to delivering meaningful medicines to patients worldwide.”

Dr. Boliang Lou, Pharmaron’s chairman and chief executive officer, said, “We are honored to be a strategic partner in the drug discovery area with AstraZeneca. This partnership is an important milestone for Pharmaron as we are strengthening our capacity in the area of fully integrated services as a highly competitive and global player.”