Singapore: AstraZeneca and NN Petrov Institute of Oncology, one of Russia's leading cancer research institutions, signed a research collaboration to identify genetic mutations in cancer patients. Establishing the role that genetic mutations play in cancer may lead to the development of better approaches to personalized healthcare, which is a core capability within AstraZeneca R&D and a priority within the Russian government's Healthcare Development 2020 programme.

Under the terms of the agreement, Petrov Institute scientists will work in collaboration with teams from AstraZeneca's Oncology Innovative Medicines group at various centers worldwide, providing a framework that will bring together complimentary skills to harness and foster medical innovation: the Petrov Institute via its research infrastructure and scientific expertise in St Petersburg, Russia, and AstraZeneca via its proven track record in global research and discovery in oncology.

Commenting on the news Mr Ajay Gautam, AstraZeneca's executive director, Asia and emerging markets R&D, said that, "The R&D eco-systems of Russia and other emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India are becoming increasingly important sources of innovation in medical science."

He also added, "We believe that partnering and collaborating with biotech companies and best-in-class academic institutions like the Petrov Institute is a central element of our R&D strategy to make a significant contribution to the delivery of innovative medicines for patients, both in Russia and across the globe."

Prof Evgeny Imanitov, the Petrov Institute's head of research for tumour growth biology said, "By leveraging our institute's unique infrastructure we hope our collaboration with AstraZeneca will lead to finding new approaches to treating cancer which will ultimately result in more patient lives being saved."