Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has signed a $95m (£47m) deal with Indian outsourcing firm Cognizant to provide electronic support to its research and development (R&D) operations.

The five-year contract will require Cognizant to provide a range of services, data management planning, medical coding, and the training of clinical investigators.

The agreement is part of AstraZeneca's wider plans to improve the effectiveness of its R&D projects, according to Anders Ekblom, vice president of clinical development.

“Delivering efficiencies through reshaping our business is one of our key strategic priorities,” said Ekblom.

The new deal will build on previous contracts between the two companies, signed in 2004. Cognizant already supports AstaZeneca's business operations in the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.