Neuroscience

Psychiatric and neurological disorders represent a significant area of medical need.

Our Neuroscience therapy area focuses on healthcare problems related to the function of the nervous system, including the brain. It is a complex area of significant medical need that touches many people’s lives.

• Over 46% of adults in the western world suffer from chronic pain and pain management is the most common reason for seeking medical care.
• About 20% of adults experience mental illness at some time in life, with 3% experiencing psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• Migraine is an often disabling neurological condition that affects around one in eight people.
• Anaesthetics are essential for surgical procedures.

AstraZeneca’s range of neuroscience products includes the following key products:

• Diprivan: the world's largest selling general anaesthetic
• Xylocaine: the world's most widely used short-acting local anaesthetic
• Naropin: our newest innovation in long-acting local anaesthetics
• Marcain: our original long-acting local anaesthetic
• Seroquel: a leading antipsychotic medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania and bipolar maintenance:
  • Bipolar Disorder
    • Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder.
    • Maintenance  treatment of bipolar 1 disorder, as monotherapy, or in combination with lithium or sodium valproate, for the prevention of recurrence of manic, depressive or mixed episodes.
    • Treatment of acute mania associated with bipolar 1 disorder, as monotherapy, or in combination with lithium or sodium valproate.
• Seroquel XR:  Treatment of schizophrenia, prevention of relapse and maintenance of clinical improvement during continuation therapy and Bipolar disorder:
  • Bipolar Disorder
    • Treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder.
    • Maintenance treatment of bipolar 1 disorder, as monotherapy, or in combination with lithium or sodium valproate, for the prevention of recurrence of manic, depressive or mixed episodes.
    • Treatment of acute mania associated with bipolar 1 disorder, as monotherapy, or in combination  with lithium or sodium valproate.
  • Unipolar / Major depressive disorder (MDD)
    • Treatment of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients who are intolerant of, or who have had an inadequate response to alternative therapies.
• Zomig: used in the treatment of migraine headaches

Backed by our strong record of innovation and excellence in anaesthesia, our fast-growing presence in disorders of the central nervous system, and a research programme focused on new neuroscience products for pain control, acute stroke and depression/anxiety, we aim to be a major force in these important areas of healthcare.

AstraZeneca also has an active research programme in this area.