By Ian Walker

LONDON--AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.LN) said Friday it plans to invest $40 million and create a new stand-alone subsidiary company focused on the research and development of its early-stage antibiotic pipeline, including the gyrase inhibitor AZD0914 which is currently in Phase II trials for the treatment of gonorrhoea.

The move will provide greater flexibility for future development of the early stage small molecule anti-infectives pipeline, the pharmaceutical company said.

AstraZeneca added that 95 employees at its plant in Waltham, MA, will be affected by the changes. However, it expects some of the researchers affected to take up roles in the new company, or in other parts of the group.

The new company will be led by, and include staff, from AstraZeneca's Innovative Medicines Unit, it said.

AstraZeneca added that it continues to progress its late-stage small molecule infection programs, notably CAZ-AVI, while at the same time exploring partnership opportunities to ensure these potential new treatments reach patients as quickly as possible.

Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com; @IanWalk40289749

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