Ontario welcomes announcement of investment from AstraZeneca to advance the fight against cancer

AstraZeneca announced 500 new, high-paying jobs in Peel and the surrounding region

Global pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca announced plans to expand its research operations and create 500 skilled scientific and research jobs in Mississauga, Ontario.

AstraZeneca’s investment in Ontario will help to advance the understanding of investigational compounds that may one day become life-changing medicines.

This project will accelerate the development of therapeutic drugs and vaccines through the creation of a new Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease Development Hub and expansion of the AstraZeneca's Research & Development Hub, which is currently spearheading global clinical studies in oncology and immunology.

Ontario is home to the largest life sciences ecosystem in Canada. The province is ranked number one in the G7 for active clinical trials per capita, with the world’s top ten pharmaceutical companies by revenue conducting clinical trials in Ontario.

The decision to invest in Ontario is a testament to the network of world-class universities, hospitals, and research centers in the GTA and southern-Ontario, and the diverse scientific talent pool that exists in the region. In addition, we’re pleased to see the steps the Ontario government has taken to support the sector by introducing the province’s first ever life sciences strategy, and we look forward to working with them to help improve access to new medicines for all Canadians, to ensure Ontario remains globally competitive for future research and clinical investments.

– Kiersten Combs, President, AstraZeneca Canada

AstraZeneca is among Canada’s leading R&D contributors across all industries, investing $135.6M in Canadian health sciences research in 2021. They are working on 174 active clinical studies involving 2,800 patients and their Ontario site is leading 100+ clinical studies worldwide.

Invest Ontario, the province’s dedicated investment attraction agency, is committed to fostering innovation and growing the life sciences footprint in the province. The agency works with AstraZeneca and other stakeholders in the sector to foster investment that supports innovation and creates high-value jobs for Ontarians.

Invest Ontario congratulates AstraZeneca on this significant new investment which will drive innovation and increase the capacity for the management and delivery of clinical trials in Ontario. Invest Ontario is committed to attracting investments that further accelerate the growth of life sciences and solidify our position as a global leader in the industry.

– Trevor Dauphinee, CEO of Invest Ontario

In 2022, Ontario launched a life sciences strategy, Taking Life Sciences to the Next Level whose goal is to maintain and grow Ontario’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sector by targeting 85,000 high-value jobs in the sector by 2030, a 25% increase from 2020.