AstraZeneca has announced a $15bn investment in China by 2030 to expand manufacturing and R&D.
China is AstraZeneca’s second-largest market. The new investment will build on China’s established leadership in science and manufacturing, as well as existing collaborations between the healthcare ecosystems of China and the UK. AstraZeneca will increase its capabilities in the areas of cell therapy and radioconjugates, thereby advancing its portfolio of treatments for cancer as well as haematological and autoimmune diseases.
The investment will be divided across all areas of production, from initial drug discovery to manufacturing. It will also leverage partnerships with biotechnology companies such as AbelZeta, CSPC, Harbour BioMed, Jacobio and Syneron Bio for the global distribution of products developed in China.
Following its acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies in 2024, AstraZeneca will soon become the first major global biopharmaceutical company with end-to-end cell therapy capabilities in China.
AstraZeneca already has R&D centres in Beijing and Shanghai that collaborate extensively on global clinical trials. It will now further develop its Chinese manufacturing facilities in Wuxi, Taizhou, Qingdao and Beijing, as well as announcing new sites in future. The investment is projected to create thousands of healthcare jobs in China.
The investment was announced during UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s recent visit to China. AstraZeneca plans to drive UK/China collaboration through collaborative work with institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Glasgow, King’s College London and HSBC. The investment is aligned with China’s Healthy China 2030 and ‘Common Health’ agenda for increased accessibility in innovative medicines.
Starmer said: “AstraZeneca’s expansion and leadership in China will help the British manufacturer continue to grow – supporting thousands of UK jobs.”
Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, added: “Today’s landmark investment of $15bn 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.”