Alza Plaza in Mountain View, California

Alza Corporation is a pharmaceutical and medical systems company founded in 1968 by Dr Alejandro Zaffaroni; the company's name is a portmanteau of his name. Alza pioneered the field of drug delivery systems, bringing over 20 prescription pharmaceutical products to market, and employing about 10,000 people during 20 years. Alza was acquired by Johnson and Johnson in May 2001, in a stock-for-stock transaction worth US$10.5 billion.

[edit] Drug 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 Systems) ^[1]
• Macroflux transdermal system
• Stealth liposomal

[edit] Marketed ALZA Products

• Catapres-TTS
• Concerta
• Covera HS - with G.D.Searle
• Ditropan XL
• Duragesic
• Doxil
• Glucotrol XL - with Pfizer
• Nicoderm CQ
• Procardia XL - with Pfizer
• Sudafed 24 hour - Efidac/24

[edit] Locations

ALZA built its first corporate headquarters in 1971, at 950 Page Mill Road, now occupied by law firm Wilson, Sonsini. In 1999 Alza moved its headquarters to Shoreline Business Park, where it remained until July 2007, when Johnson & Johnson laid off the remaining 600 employees there and vacated the space.^{[2] [3]}

Google's Googleplex is located just east of ALZA Plaza. In August-September 2008, Google moved into Alza plaza buildings.

Alza operated a large-scale manufacturing facility in Vacaville, California, and another large-scale facility in Cashel, Ireland.

[edit] External links

• ^{[dead link]} Alza Corporation official webpage
• Alza Corp - Company Profile and News Archive
• Alza Corporation on BioPortfolio

[edit] References

1. ^ Gareth Macdonald. "Patheon to make Oros-based depression and allergy drugs". Decision News Media SAS. http://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/Contract-Manufacturing/Patheon-to-make-Oros-based-depression-and-allergy-drugs. 
2. ^ Alza's exit could mean another office space buy for Google - Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal
3. ^ Alza Corp. leaving city after 17 years - Mountain View Voice