Macclesfield is the second largest Manufacturing & Supply site in AstraZeneca and provides the link between Research & Development, and Sales & Marketing. Our Manufacturing and Supply teams work closely with Development colleagues based on site to achieve successful technology transfers and to undertake first manufacture of new products. The site supplies products for all of AstraZeneca's therapy areas, and currently sources 130 markets worldwide.
AstraZeneca at Macclesfield has a number of specific roles within the supply chain and manufacturing strategy, including one as a New Product Launch Site, and as the sole global supplier for one of our leading cancer products. Additionally, its role as a Quality Assurance Lead Site makes it responsible for the quality control and assurance of a range of products made both at Macclesfield and other Sites for supply to global markets.
Our Macclesfield site has a stated aim to build a reputation for consistent first class customer service. All UK Manufacturing employees have a clear understanding of what customer service means to them personally, to their teams and to the business. The concept of internal customer service is a key element.
We are committed to maintaining a workplace that meets Health, Safety and Environmental standards, with an active improvement programme. Governing every stage of the production cycle, Good Manufacturing Code of Practice ensures our products are 100% right, first time, every time. These structured procedures are rigorously documented and dictate the way many of our employees dress, as well as the way they handle materials and fulfil their job functions.
Macclesfield site has facilities for all three stages of pharmaceutical manufacture - bulk drug manufacture, formulation and packing.
Research & Development
PR&D (Process Research and Development)
Macclesfield is home to one of the three AstraZeneca global PR&D sites. A range of specialised, well equipped Laboratories house the research chemists and analysts and the site also has a new state of the art large-scale laboratory complex and recently refurbished pilot plants.
PR&D provides a key link between Discovery and Manufacturing and this work involves collaboration between synthetic chemists, analytical chemists and chemical engineers. In the first instance they are responsible for devising efficient, practical chemical routes and processes to deliver quantities of candidate drugs to support all development work including early Clinical Trials. For successful drugs the routes are then developed and optimised, paying particular regard to environmental factors, so that they are suitable for long-term large-scale commercial manufacture of the active drug chemical. Prior to a compound becoming an established product, the final responsibility of PR&D is to transfer the chemical processes to the Bulk Drug Manufacturing function for manufacture of commercial material.
PAR&D (Pharmaceutical, Analytical Research and Development)
PAR&D are responsible for the quality of the active chemical ingredient of a candidate drug and for developing ways to administer it. Analytical chemists examine the drug substance and its method of preparation to find potential impurities and by-products; they also set specifications and develop quality control procedures. Other pharmaceutical scientists are responsible for developing a formulated drug from the active chemical compound. In the first instance new drugs are formulated and manufactured in a form suitable for administration in clinical trials. As development of the drug progresses formulations are devised to optimise its effectiveness and safety in disease treatment. Another important aspect of the work of PAR&D is to monitor the stability of the drug and ensure that it is formulated so that it has an appropriate shelf-life. Finally, prior to commercial manufacture of a drug, PAR&D transfer procedures for routine analysis of the active chemical ingredient and formulated drug to Quality Assurance Departments within Manufacturing and Supply.
Marketing
Marketing support and development at Macclesfield is targeted at smaller and emerging markets to spot business opportunities and create dynamic marketing strategies that will turn these into successful ventures.
