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8 n e w h a v e n B I Z | J u l y 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m O n T h e R e c o r d | Q & A revenue post acquisition, or from July 21 through Dec. 31, 2021, of $3.07 billion. Alexion has five medicines approved currently, including Kanuma, Koselugo, Soliris, Strensiq and Ultomiris, according to its website. e company continues to expand its drug portfolio, pipeline, and disease targets. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ultomiris for use in adults with a common form of myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune neuromuscular disease involving loss of muscle function and severe weakness. In September, the company grew its drug pipeline through the acquisition of New Jersey-based Caelum Biosciences and its drug against amyloidosis, a rare blood disease. New Haven Biz recently chatted with Sharon Barr, senior vice president, head of research and product development at Alexion, about what the AstraZeneca acquisition has meant for the company, and what the future holds for its presence in New Haven. Barr leads efforts to invent new therapies for patients with rare diseases and make them available for clinical trials. What impact has the July 2021 AstraZeneca deal had on Alexion? I have been at Alexion for nine years and I have seen a lot of changes during that time. From my perspective, the acquisition by AstraZeneca is the most positive of those changes. It has led to an increased investment in research, expansion of our portfolio, and growth across the company. Most importantly, we have become part of an even larger scientific community, and that has been wonderful for us. It has given us the opportunity to collaborate within AstraZeneca, to create therapies we had long hoped to do. I will give you an example. As a company focused on rare diseases, we would love to be able to create gene therapies. Now that we are part of AstraZeneca, those capabilities are available to us. We are working with our partners at AstraZeneca to make that a reality. Elm City Expansion AstraZeneca marriage boosts collaboration, growth for Alexion By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo I t's been over a year since U.K.-based AstraZeneca finalized its $39 billion acquisition of New Haven-born Alexion. And while the deal may have stoked fears about what it would mean for Alexion's Elm City presence, recent months have shown local growth and expansion are on the horizon. In April, the company, now Alexion, AstraZeneca's Rare Disease group, announced plans to expand in New Haven by leasing space at the new bioscience tower currently under construction at 101 College St. e company is headquartered in Boston, but has roughly 550 employees working in New Haven at its existing research facility, at 100 College St. Alexion indicated it expects to occupy the additional space by the end of 2023. e expansion will double its lab floor space and grow its research capabilities, according to the company, which has been on a hiring spree. Developer Carter Winstanley is building the 10-story tower at 101 College St., Sharon Barr, Alexion's senior vice president, head of research and product development. and once finished, it will have roughly 500,000 square feet of laboratory, research and meeting space. In addition to Alexion, it has already attracted tenants such as Yale University and bioscience company Arvinas. Coinciding with the local expansion, AstraZeneca in April announced plans to open a new headquarters for its Alexion Rare Disease group and a strategic R&D center in the Boston area by 2026. Alexion has developed treatments for a range of disorders and diseases, such as lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (a genetic disease associated with multi- organ damage) and neurofibromatosis (which causes benign tumors along nerves in the body), among others. Alexion reported $6.07 billion in annual revenue in 2020, pre-acquisition. AstraZeneca reported total rare disease IMAGES | CONTRIBUTED Sharon Barr Senior Vice President, Head of Research and Product Development Alexion Education: Ph.D., molecular biology, New York University; Postdoctoral fellowship on mechanisms of DNA damage and repair, Stanford University Age: 53

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