PHARMACEUTICAL giant AstraZeneca celebrates its 50th anniversary at Alderley Park this week marking half a century of scientific research on the site.

The doors to the new research laboratories were opened by The Viscount Waverley, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir Alexander Fleck, Chairman of ICI in 1957.

Once the ancestral home of the Stanley family the parkland site was bought by ICI in 1950 to create a research base specifically for its growing pharmaceutical division.

The original Mereside complex was built five years later and the research and development laboratories were officially opened on October 1, 1957.

It has since gained a global reputation in healthcare and pharmaceutials and played its part in the discovery of some of the world’s most important medicines.

Beta-blockers which revolutionised the treatment of certain heart diseases were developed at Alderley Park and new hormonal treatments for breast and other cancers have gone on to become market leaders and led to important advances in cancer treatment world wide.

A cutting-edge £60million cancer research building opened last year and current projects include a new lecture theatre due to be opened later this year.

In April Alistair Darling MP, then Trade and Industry Minister, now Chancellor of the Exchequer, visited Alderley Park to launch 50th Anniversary year and pay tribute to the pioneering work carried out.

He said; “AstraZeneca is a power-house of the North West economy and a world leader in medical research - creating vital new medicines, generating thousands of jobs and £billions in investment.

“The innovation, ideas and energy at Alderley Park over the last 50 years have played a major part in the fight against heart disease and cancer.

“The company continues to contribute strongly to the renaissance of the North West. That is a proud record and one which sets the benchmark for the next 50 years.”

AstraZeneca’s chief executive David Brennan, said: “What we celebrate today is an unbroken chain of innovation in which one generation passes on its learning to the next and in which the projects we undertake are not isolated initiatives, but all part of a connected body of work.”

A series of events are being held at Alderley Park to mark the 50th anniversary ‘week’ involving 4,500 staff.

There is to be a 1950’s theme in the company’s restaurants and there will be displays on key research areas including cancer, cardiovascular and gastro-intestinal.