AstraZeneca and MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, have announced a range of strategic initiatives in China, the company's second largest market globally and a key growth platform. Among the initiatives is an investment of $50 million to build an additional development and launch facility alongside the company’s existing manufacturing site in Wuxi City to support the development and manufacture of small molecules discovered in China and its global R&D sites.

Additional investments include the creation of a new global hub for pharmaceutical development, alongside those in the UK and Sweden, with up to 50 scientists based in Shanghai and Wuxi City, to support both China and global needs. AstraZeneca is also establishing an integrated China medicines development organization, bringing together early- and late-stage medicines development across small molecules and biologics.

In addition, the company has formed a strategic alliance with WuXi AppTec, a leading Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer and contract research organization, to produce biologics locally in China. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca has the option to acquire WuXi AppTec's biologics manufacturing capacity in Wuxi City in the next few years through an overall investment approximating $100 million. Prior to that, Wuxi AppTec remains the company's exclusive partner for R&D manufacturing for innovative biologics in China. The alliance builds on the existing joint venture between MedImmune and WuXi AppTec to develop and commercialize AstraZeneca’s MEDI5117, a biologic for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, in China.

AstraZeneca's China headquarters are based in Shanghai, and the company has more than 11,000 employees throughout the country. It has manufacturing sites in Wuxi and Taizhou, as well as a distribution center in Wuxi and an innovation center in Shanghai, focused on the discovery and development of drugs to address the unique needs of patients in Asia.

Source: AstraZeneca