AstraZeneca’s research laboratories are starting to deliver again, after a barren five years. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker hopes this year to launch the diabetes treatment Onglyza, its first new drug since late 2003, and is on track to file four new medicines for approval, which could reach the market in 2010.

The spurt of activity is no flash in the pan, according to chief executive David Brennan. He believes a similar level of new drug submissions is possible next year assuming clinical trial results in the coming months live up to expectations. AstraZeneca was hit hard in 2004 by a series of late-stage failures with much hyped — but risky —new drugs.

This time round, the portfolio of medicines entering the final lap of development has a lower risk profile.

“We are pleased with the progress we’ve seen in the pipeline,” Brennan told Reuters in an interview.

“It’s more balanced on proven mechanisms ... four years ago, we were more heavily weighted to first-in-class (drugs), which was higher risk.”

New medicines due to be filed before the year-end include the blood thinner Brilinta; a new combination of AstraZeneca’s existing cholesterol blockbuster Crestor and Solvay’s TriLipix; cancer drug Zactima; and pain medicine PN400.

Given the link with Solvay, AstraZeneca has been tipped as a possible bidder for the Belgian group’s drugs unit. Brennan declined to comment on his interest but said there was no pressure to make a strategic move, since Crestor/TriLipix would not be affected by any Solvay disposal.

“We’ve got we want, which is a partnership on the product,” he said. Wider collaborations will be a growing theme across the industry, Brennan believes.

In addition to conventional licensing and partnership deals, he expects more joint clinical trials, particularly in cancer, along the lines of the pioneering alliance with Merck & Co for two early-stage cancer drugs signed this week.