CHANGING TIMES, CHANGING LIVES

These past few weeks have seen us suddenly thrust into an unprecedented global crisis with entire countries effectively shut down and life – for the short term at least – changed beyond recognition for many.

Each and every one of us is having to adapt to our new ways of living and working to do everything we can to help stop the spread of COVID-19 as quickly as possible.

The health and wellbeing of our employees and the patients on our clinical trials is of paramount importance to us.

HUMANITY ALWAYS SHINES THROUGH

As we do our best to get used to this ‘new normal’, I am truly inspired and impressed by the amazing people we’re lucky to work with both at AstraZeneca and across our wider life-sciences ecosystem. Everyone is rallying round in these uncertain times as we try to combat the spread and treatment of Coronavirus whilst ensuring that our medicines still get to patients.

We are all adapting – many are working from home, some are continuing lab work in de-densified labs, some are changing to shift work whilst others are practicing social distancing and self-isolation.

It is humbling to see just how quickly everyone has reacted and adapted to the challenging circumstances, seeing their resilience and resolve to get things done is nothing short of inspirational. They have stepped up to the line and are making their mark to impact our response to COVID-19.

Through it all, we are supporting each other to ensure we are working as safely as possible and we continue to live by our company values – doing the right thing, putting patients first, following the science, playing to win and being entrepreneurial.

These are most definitely unprecedented times but also the times which exemplify the very best of humanity.

CHANGING HOW SCIENCE IS DONE, TOGETHER

We have long created a culture at AstraZeneca where science knows no boundaries and I am passionate about us being as open and transparent as possible when it comes to our efforts. Whether it be repositioning molecules that may play a part of in controlling the symptoms or progression of the disease; identifying new molecules specifically targeting COVID-19 or helping with efforts to diagnose patients more effectively. We are all pushing on many fronts to accelerate the best treatments and help to divert the course of this pandemic for the better. This openness is even more important at times like this and I am gratified that I am talking to many of my peers on a regular basis with a common purpose of doing what we can to end this crisis fast.

We are also doing what we can to support frontline physicians and healthcare practitioners helping to treat and support COVID-19 patients – I am proud that like many other companies we are helping where we can, in our instance donating nine million face masks and providing lab equipment to healthcare systems across the globe.

DRIVEN BY OUR PURPOSE

Remembering why we do what we do is incredibly important. In many ways it is what keeps us going. Science has the power to change the world for the better, science can turn into medicine and it is paramount our industry continues to make sure patients not only get access to the medicines they need today but also the medicines they will need in the future when this pandemic is over. The medicines that will continue to re-write the medical text books and continue to transform patient care.

These are unprecedented times but together, with flexibility, adaptability and resilience, we will continue to tackle this pandemic together, we will get through it together and we will come out of it stronger, better prepared for the future and a little wiser.