After a few notable failures, John Patterson, the drugmaker’s development head, is trying to convince the world that AstraZeneca’s pipeline isn’t another Harry Potter fairy tale. And so he tells Reuters that he expects ‘make or break’ news on a record number of drugs in mid-stage development during 2008. And as the wire service writes, this will demonstrate a revival of pipeline dismissed as running dry.

“We are dispelling the myth that the AstraZeneca pipeline is empty,” Patterson boasts to Reuters. “Next year we will have a record number of proof of concepts … I would expect at least five.”

AstraZeneca’s Phase III portfolio today is still small by industry standards but it has doubled to 10 products from five at the start of 2007, Reuters continues. Back in 2001, AstraZeneca was the top-rated stock in the European sector but the failure of five key drugs - Exanta, Iressa, Galida, NXY-059 and AGI-1067 - has pushed it into the bargain basement. Those setbacks have also shaken confidence in the drugmaker’s ability to bring new meds to market.

Patterson, however, argues the pipeline today was less risky than in the past, following a series of external deals and acquisitions. “It’s a more balanced pipeline,” he insists, “a mixture of first and best in class, and a balance between biologicals and small molecules, with vaccines now thrown in as well” following this year’s acquisition of MedImmune.

The line-up of drugs that could clear the so-called proof-of-concept hurdle next year - paving the way to more advanced trials - includes new treatments for a wide range of diseases. Patterson highlighted the potential of AZD2281 for breast cancer, AZD9056 in rheumatoid arthritis, AZD3480 in Alzheimer’s, AZD3355 for acid reflux and AZD0837 for thrombosis, among others.

As for deals, Patterson says AstraZeneca is ready to explore the idea of making a fixed-dose combination tablet with its blockbuster Seroqquel schizophrenia med, although he declined to confirm whether it wanted to license Acadia Pharmaceuticals pimavanserin product. Some analysts see AstraZeneca as a frontrunner to acquire rights to the experimental drug, which is expected to work best when combined with drugs like Seroquel.

“We never comment on any ongoing licensing discussions with anybody, until they are done,” Patterson says. “We keep our options open on licensing in any drug that may make sense to be combined with Seroquel, but our primary programme with Seroquel is to deliver XR.”

Seroquel XR is a longer-lasting version of the original medicine, designed to see off potential rivals. But analysts believe it may still leave the franchise exposed to generic competition after 2012. A combination including a new drug like pimavanserin could provide patent protection well beyond that.