AstraZeneca unveils $2.5B plan for R&D, biotech and manufacturing expansion in Beijing

AstraZeneca has announced a $2.5 billion investment in Beijing, China over the next five years to establish a new global strategic R&D center and expand partnerships in biotechnology and manufacturing.

The investment includes agreements with Harbour BioMed, Syneron Bio, and BioKangtai, and is part of a strategic partnership with the Beijing Municipal Government and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. The company expects its Beijing workforce to grow to 1,700 employees.

The new R&D center, AstraZeneca’s second in China and sixth globally, will focus on early-stage research and clinical development. It will feature a dedicated AI and data science lab and be located in the Beijing International Pharmaceutical Innovation Park (BioPark), near key regulatory agencies and academic partners.

“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,” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in a statement.

AstraZeneca is also expanding its research collaborations in Beijing, including a partnership with the Beijing Cancer Hospital and licensing agreements with Harbour BioMed for multi-specific antibodies and Syneron Bio for macro-cyclic peptides. 

As part of the investment, AstraZeneca is also launching a joint venture with BioKangtai to develop, manufacture, and commercialize vaccines for respiratory and infectious diseases. The new facility in Beijing BioPark will be AstraZeneca’s first vaccine manufacturing site in China.

Earlier this year, AstraZeneca backed out of a $558.3 million investment in a UK vaccine plant. The company planned to expand an existing facility in Speke, Liverpool, but said the UK government made a final funding offer that was lower than previously proposed.