AstraZeneca has committed to investing $2.5bn into its life science presence in China with a novel R&D centre, as well as research and vaccine manufacturing agreements.
The five year investment is the result of a partnership with the Beijing Municipal Government, resulting in the company agreements with biotech companies Harbour BioMed, Syneron Bio and BioKangtai.
Through this investment, AstraZeneca will open a novel global strategic R&D centre in Beijing — which will support the activities of the company's Shanghai site, as well as the four other centres positioned worldwide.
The Beijing site, positioned in the city's BioPark, will be responsible for early-stage research and clinical development, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations.
On top of this, AstraZeneca has initiated R&D and manufacturing collaborations in the region, including:
- An agreement with BioKangtai to develop, manufacture and commercialise vaccines for infectious diseases — resulting in the build of AZ's first and only vaccine manufacturing facility in China
- An R&D collaboration with the Beijing Cancer Hospital, focused on translational research, data science and clinical development
- Collaboration and licensing agreement with Harbour BioMed and Syneron Bio, the former focusing on the discovery of multi-specific antibodies and the latter the development of macro-cyclic peptides
CEO of AstraZeneca, Pascal Soriot, commented: “This $2.5 billion investment reflects our belief in the world-class life sciences ecosystem in Beijing, the extensive opportunities that exist for collaboration and access to talent, and our continued commitment to China."
"Our sixth strategic R&D centre will partner with the cutting-edge biology and AI science in Beijing and be a critical part of our global efforts to bring innovative medicines to patients worldwide.”
The support Beijing's innovation ecosystem, Mr Soriot has been invited to join the Beijing International Business Leaders Advisory Council (IBLAC).
[Image credit: AstraZeneca]