Bloomberg Talks AstraZeneca CEO Talks Drug Sales in US
Jul 29, 2025
Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca and former Genentech CEO, shares insights into the pharmaceutical giant's future. He discusses plans to potentially sell medicines directly to U.S. patients, emphasizing AstraZeneca’s goal of self-sufficiency in the U.S. market soon. Soriot delves into how U.S. policies and a $50 billion commitment are reshaping domestic manufacturing. He also highlights China’s evolution in drug innovation and the need for U.S. firms to adapt to stay competitive while ensuring breakthroughs in therapies for obesity and cancer.
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Manufacturing as National Security
- Every country aims to secure the health of its citizens, making pharmaceutical manufacturing a matter of national security.
- AstraZeneca increased its U.S. manufacturing footprint years ago to manufacture medicines locally for American patients.
Pre-COVID Manufacturing Strategy
- AstraZeneca pursued localized manufacturing for China and the U.S. long before recent tariff threats.
- COVID-19 accelerated this approach, and the company is making multi-billion dollar investments in U.S. manufacturing and R&D sites.
Keys to Manufacturing Investment
- To attract biotech investments, companies must be near great science and talent.
- Fast, understanding partnerships with local governments also accelerate development and manufacturing success.