AstraZeneca unveils $15 billion investment in China
The company says that the investment will significantly its cell therapy and radioconjugates capabilities that are driving its broad and varied pipeline to help patients with cancer, haematological conditions and autoimmune diseases, among others.
Building on the 2024 acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies, AstraZeneca will also become the first global biopharmaceutical leader with end-to-end cell therapy capabilities in China.
AstraZeneca says the investments span the value chain, from drug discovery and clinical development to manufacturing, and bring Chinese innovation to the world through its partnerships with leading biotechs including AbelZeta, CSPC, Harbour BioMed, Jacobio and Syneron Bio.
Pascal Soriot said: “Today’s landmark investment of $15 billion begins an exciting next chapter for AstraZeneca in China, which has become a critical contributor to scientific innovation, advanced manufacturing, and global public health. By expanding our capabilities in breakthrough treatments like cell therapy and radioconjugates, we will strengthen our contribution to China’s high-quality development and, most importantly, bring next-generation modalities to patients.”
The investments build on AstraZeneca’s substantial R&D footprint, including global strategic R&D centres in Beijing and Shanghai, which collaborate with over 500 clinical hospitals, and have led on a large number of global clinical trials in the past three years alone.
The Company will also develop its existing manufacturing facilities in Wuxi, Taizhou, Qingdao, and Beijing, which provide high-quality medicines to patients in China and 70 markets worldwide, together with the establishment of new sites to be announced. Together, these investments will grow the Company’s highly skilled workforce in China beyond 20,000 and create thousands of additional jobs across the healthcare ecosystem.
Building on its successful ecosystem collaboration with the University of Cambridge and Beijing, AstraZeneca is working with other pre-eminent research and financial institutions - including the University of Oxford, the University of Glasgow, King’s College London, and HSBC - to establish further collaborations between dynamic ecosystems in both countries.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Unlocking opportunities for British businesses across the globe and delivering for working people back home is always the driving force behind my international engagements. AstraZeneca’s expansion and leadership in China will help the British manufacturer continue to grow - supporting thousands of UK jobs.
“The multi-billion pound investment announced today from AstraZeneca, alongside partnerships from some of our country’s leading universities, furthers research and development in the UK which is helping to power our world class life sciences sector.”
Since entering China in 1993, AstraZeneca has introduced over 40 medicines, focusing on disease areas such as oncology, respiratory, cardiovascular, renal & metabolic, gastrointestinal, rare disease, and vaccines and immunology. China is AstraZeneca’s second-largest market.