AstraZeneca is considering spinning off its GI research institute into a separate company that would go out into the market and hunt for venture capital backing, according to Swedish newspaper reports. The news reports say that the pharma company is looking at spinning off five research projects. If it goes ahead with a decision to spin off a research unit into a new company, analysts see a dramatic departure from business as usual. But with pharma companies under intense pressure, new strategies for R&D may be coming sooner rather than later. "We continually look to ways to maximize the value of our R&D assets for patients and shareholders and explore a range of options on an ongoing basis," says an AstraZeneca spokesperson, who declined to confirm or deny the reports.

- read the story [1] from The Times

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