Phamaceutical Giant AstraZeneca Threatens To Leave Europe

The Chief Executive of Astra Zeneca, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, has warned European governments that unless the EU improves its business environment, the company will move its investment elsewhere. Sir Tom McKillop's statement came after Martin Nicklassen, head of Astra Zeneca research and development (R&D) complained about the Swedish government's position in an interview on Swedish radio. In the interview, Mr Nicklassen suggested that Astra Zeneca would leave Sweden, where it has around 5,000 researchers, as a reaction to the government's advice to doctors to prescribe older, cheaper drugs rather than the new drugs developed by Astra Zeneca.