AstraZeneca Invests $2.5 Bn in Beijing for New R&D Center & Biotech Partnerships

The new R&D center will focus on early-stage research and clinical development and will be supported by a state-of-the-art AI and data science laboratory. 

AstraZeneca has announced a $2.5 billion investment in Beijing to establish its sixth global strategic R&D center. The company has also signed multiple research and manufacturing agreements to advance life sciences in China. 

This investment, spread over the next five years, is part of a strategic partnership with the Beijing Municipal Government and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area Administrative Office. 

The initiative also includes agreements with three biotechs—Harbour BioMed, Syneron Bio, and BioKangtai—and follows AstraZeneca's recent partnership with Fibrogen. The company expects its Beijing workforce to expand to 1,700 employees.

New R&D Centre to Focus on AI & Early-Stage Research

The new global strategic R&D center in Beijing is AstraZeneca's second in China, following its Shanghai R&D center. It will focus on early-stage research and clinical development and will be supported by a state-of-the-art AI and data science laboratory. 

The facility will be located in the Beijing International Pharmaceutical Innovation Park (BioPark), in proximity to biotech companies, research hospitals, and the National Medical Products Administration.

Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, stated, "This $2.5 billion investment reflects our belief in Beijing's world-class life sciences ecosystem, its collaboration opportunities, and access to top talent. Our sixth strategic R&D center will integrate cutting-edge biology and AI science and play a critical role in our global mission to bring innovative medicines to patients."

New Collaborations with Leading Chinese Biotechs

AstraZeneca is expanding its research collaborations in Beijing, including a strategic partnership with the Beijing Cancer Hospital to advance translational research, data science, and clinical development. Additionally, the company has signed two major agreements:

- A collaboration and licensing agreement with Harbour BioMed to discover multi-specific antibodies.

- A partnership with Syneron Bio to develop macro-cyclic peptides.

AstraZeneca is also launching a joint venture with BioKangtai to develop, manufacture, and commercialise innovative vaccines for respiratory and infectious diseases. 

The new vaccine manufacturing facility, which will be based in the Beijing BioPark, will be AstraZeneca's first in China.

To further support Beijing's innovation ecosystem, Pascal Soriot has been invited to join the Beijing International Business Leaders Advisory Council (IBLAC), which advises on business and economic growth strategies.

AstraZeneca is a global biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing oncology, rare disease, and biopharmaceutical treatments, covering areas such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, respiratory, and immunology.

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