AstraZeneca to invest over $150 mln in Kaluga production plant

International pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, plans to invest over $150 million to construct a production plant at the Vorsino Industrial Park, in the Kaluga Region.

A company statement says ground will be broken for the plant's construction in April of this year, with the first production expected in spring 2013.The plant will encompass a full production cycle, from medicine component preparation to packaging, for up to 16 million packets a year, in line with international quality standards.NenadPavletic, president of AstraZenecaRussia says that in additionto localized production, AstraZeneca plans to invest in Russian research and development."Our upcoming plans include a project to support Russian innovative development in the basic sciences." AstraZeneca noted that in providing medication for major social health conditions, includingoncological, cardiological, gastroenterological, psychiatric and repertory conditions, it would be the first major global pharmaceutical player to commence a full production cycle in Russia.