Making a Positive Response to the Closure of the AstraZeneca Charnwood Research Site

NOTTINGHAM, England, March 3, 2010 - Chief Executive of BioCity Nottingham, Dr Glenn Crocker is available to
comment into how the East Midlands might respond to the closure of the
AstraZeneca Charnwood Research Site and offer some positive possibilities in
the aftermath of this bleak event.

    In particular Dr Crocker can:

    - Point to the experience elsewhere in Europe where this kind of closure
      has happened and has spawned a huge expansion in the entrepreneurial
      biopharm sector as highly skilled people either move into smaller
      companies or set up enterprises on their own.
    - Describe the robust nature of the BioPharm sector in the East Midlands
      aside from AZ and the opportunities for expansion using the skilled
      people at AZ
    - Talk about the importance of providing short term support to smaller
      biopharm companies to help them absorb the talent at AZ to avoid it
      being forced to leave the area
    - Highlight the importance of encouraging entrepreneurial startups among
      the AZ employees , hence BioCity's immediate response of 12 months free
      lab and office space and business support to AZ employees looking to
      establish their own businesses
    - Emphasise the excellence of the AZ facilities at Charnwood and the
      importance of exploring how they can be preserved for the benefit of
      the regions growing biopharm sector

To arrange an interview with Dr Crocker please contact: Andrew Third, Integra Communications Ltd, t : +44(0)115-912-4350, m: +44(0)7917-691532, andrew at integracommunications.co.uk