AstraZeneca Outlines $15B China Investment Plan Through 2030

AstraZeneca announced plans to invest $15 billion in China through 2030 to expand its R&D and manufacturing footprint in the country. The investment is intended to support drug discovery, clinical development and production across multiple therapeutic areas.

The company said the investment will build on China’s scientific research base and advanced manufacturing capabilities, and is aimed at expanding development and manufacturing capacity in China.

Focus On New Modalities and Development Capabilities

Cell therapy and radioconjugates were highlighted as key areas of expansion under the investment plan. These modalities form part of AstraZeneca’s pipeline across oncology, hematological conditions and autoimmune diseases. The investment follows AstraZeneca’s 2024 acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies, which the company said supports its aim to establish cell therapy development and manufacturing capabilities in China.

In addition to internal development, the investment includes collaboration with Chinese biopharmaceutical partners. AstraZeneca named several companies it works with in China, including AbelZeta, CSPC, Harbour BioMed, Jacobio and Syneron Bio. The company said these partnerships are intended to enable discoveries developed in China to support global drug development efforts.

Expanding an Existing R&D and Manufacturing Base

AstraZeneca currently operates global strategic R&D centres in Beijing and Shanghai, which collaborate with more than 500 clinical hospitals and have led 20 global clinical trials to date.

On the manufacturing side, AstraZeneca operates facilities in Wuxi, Taizhou, Qingdao and Beijing. These sites supply medicines in China and to more than 70 markets worldwide. AstraZeneca said it will continue to develop its existing manufacturing network and establish additional sites, although specific locations and timelines were not disclosed.

The company also stated that the investment will expand its workforce in China beyond 20,000 employees and support additional jobs across the healthcare ecosystem.

China is AstraZeneca’s second-largest market and a major base for its research, manufacturing and commercial activities. The company reported that its medicines reached approximately 68 million patients in China in 2025. In recent years, AstraZeneca has also signed multiple global licensing agreements with Chinese partners.

Related: AstraZeneca Seals $1.2B Obesity and Metabolic Disease Pipeline Deal with CSPC Pharma

Policy Alignment and International Collaboration

AstraZeneca noted that the investment aligns with China’s Healthy China 2030 initiative and the country’s “Common Health” agenda, which emphasize prevention, early detection and improved access to healthcare. The announcement was made during a UK government visit to China and includes plans to expand collaboration between Chinese and UK institutions, including universities and financial organizations.

Global Pharma and Biotech Activity Across Regions

US investment overseas is on the move, alongside continued domestic manufacturing expansion.

Boehringer Ingelheim entered a licensing and collaboration agreement with China-based Simcere to develop a preclinical dual-target antibody for inflammatory bowel disease, securing global rights to the asset outside Greater China while Simcere retained regional rights.

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals signed an exclusive global licensing agreement with Suzhou-based Ribo and its subsidiary Ribocure for multiple preclinical siRNA programs targeting metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), granting Madrigal worldwide development and commercialization rights.

At the same time, companies are maximizing manufacturing closer to home. Eli Lilly announced plans to invest more than $6 billion in a new active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facility in Alabama and a separate $3.5 billion injectable medicine and device manufacturing site in Pennsylvania to support production of small-molecule, peptide and next-generation weight-loss therapies.

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