AstraZeneca is to expand its medicines manufacturing and R&D in China with a $15 billion investment. The company said the move will “span the value chain” from drug discovery and clinical development to manufacturing. The investment will also support Chinese innovation through AstraZeneca’s partnerships with leading biotech companies including AbleZeta, CSPC, Harbour BioMed, Jacobio and Syneron Bio.
The company added that it will also become the first global biopharmaceutical leader with “end-to-end cell therapy capabilities” in China, building on its acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies during 2024. Gracell is a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company which is focused on developing breakthrough cell therapies for the treatment of cancers and autoimmune diseases.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said: “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 investment was announced during a visit by UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to China which was aimed at strengthening UK and China collaboration in several areas including healthcare innovation, as well as benefiting the life science ecosystem of both countries. AstraZeneca is working with academic and financial institutions in the UK and China and aims to establish "further collaborations between dynamic ecosystems in both countries.”
The company said the investments build on its substantial R&D footprint, including global strategic R&D centres in Beijing and Shanghai, which collaborate with over 500 clinical hospitals. AstraZeneca will also develop its existing manufacturing facilities in Wuxi, Taizhou, Qingdao, and Beijing, together with the establishment of new sites to be announced. Together, these investments will grow AstraZeneca's workforce in China beyond 20,000 people.
AstraZeneca adds that this development in China builds towards its stated goals of launching 20 new medicines by 2030 as well as achieving $80 billion total revenue in the same time frame. In recent months AstraZeneca has announced a string of investments: July 2025 saw the company set out plans to invest $50 billion in medicines manufacturing and R&D in the US by 2030. This money is in addition to the $3.5 billion US investment announced during November 2024. Some 50% of the company’s stated 2030 revenue target is expected to be generated in the US.
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AstraZeneca plans $50 billion medicines manufacturing investment for US
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