“Today’s landmark investment of USD 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,” says Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca.

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These investments span the value chain, from drug discovery and clinical development to manufacturing, and bring Chinese innovation to the world through our partnerships with leading biotechs including AbelZeta, CSPC, Harbour BioMed, Jacobio and Syneron Bio. 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, it states.

These 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.

The investment, announced during the UK Prime Minister’s visit to China, will strengthen China-UK collaboration in healthcare innovation and will benefit the life sciences ecosystems of both countries. 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.

This investment is fully aligned with the goals of Healthy China 2030 and will prioritie delivery of China’s ‘Common Health’ agenda, to expand prevention, early detection, and access to innovative medicines for underserved communities.