Alza
American pharmaceutical and medical systems company (1968-2001)
Alza Corporation was an American pharmaceutical and medical systems company.
01Background
Founded in 1968 by Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni; the company's name is a portmanteau of his name. Alza was a major pioneer in the field of drug delivery systems, bringing over 20 prescription pharmaceutical products to market, and employing about 10,000 people during 20 years. In 2001, Alza was acquired by Johnson & Johnson via a stock-for-stock transaction worth US$10.5 billion.
02Drug delivery platforms
The company owns the patents on the following delivery platforms:
- Alzamer Depot
- D-Trans
- DUROS implant
- E-Trans electrotransport
- OROS (Osmotic Release Oral System)
- Macroflux transdermal system
- Stealth liposomal
03Marketed Alza products
- Catapres-TTS, now marketed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals
- Concerta, now marketed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals
- Covera HS, with G.D. Searle
- Ditropan XL
- Duragesic
- Doxil
- Jurnista / Exalgo
- Glucotrol XL, with Pfizer
- Nicoderm CQ
- Procardia XL, with Pfizer
- Efidac/24, marketed by CIBA Consumer Pharmaceuticals
- Spirolactone
- Viadur, licensed to Bayer after approval in 2000, but marketing was discontinued in 2008
04Locations
Alza built its first corporate headquarters in 1971, at 950 Page Mill Road in Palo Alto, California. In 1990, Alza moved its headquarters to Shoreline Business Park, where it remained until late 2007, a few years after Alza was acquired by Johnson & Johnson. The remaining employees were relocated to two buildings elsewhere in the Shoreline Business Park.
Alza operated a large-scale manufacturing facility in Vacaville, California, but it was announced that this facility would shut down by 2022. They also previously operated a large-scale facility in Cashel, Ireland.
Google's Googleplex is located just east of Alza Plaza. In August-September 2008, Google moved into the Alza plaza buildings.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Alza”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Alza Plaza.jpg by Coolcaesar at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Alza pano from Permanente Creek Trail.jpg by Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
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