Astra AB

Astra AB was a prominent Swedish pharmaceutical company founded in 1913 and headquartered in Södertälje. The company gained international fame for its development of innovative therapies, most notably the proton pump inhibitor Losec (omeprazole), which became the world's best-selling drug in the 1990s. Astra's core research strengths were concentrated in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and pain control medications. In 1999, Astra AB merged with the British Zeneca Group to form AstraZeneca, creating one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Before the merger, Astra operated several specialized research subsidiaries such as Astra Hässle and Astra Draco. The company's legacy remains a foundational component of AstraZeneca's current global operations and R&D pipeline.