AstraZeneca, along with MedImmune, its global biologics research and
development arm, announced a range of strategic initiatives to
accelerate the delivery of innovative biologics and targeted medicines
to patients in China, the company’s second largest market globally and a
key growth platform. The initiatives and investments include:
- A strategic alliance with WuXi AppTec, a leading Chinese biologics
manufacturer and contract research organisation, to produce innovative
biologics locally in China. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca has the
option to acquire WuXi AppTec’s biologics manufacturing capacity in Wuxi
City in the next few years through an overall investment approximating
$100 million. Prior to that, Wuxi AppTec remains the company’s exclusive
partner for R&D manufacturing for innovative biologics in China.
This strategic alliance will bring cutting-edge research and technical capability for biologics to China with the aim of addressing unmet patient needs in AstraZeneca’s main therapy areas of respiratory, inflammation and autoimmunity; cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and oncology. The alliance builds on the existing joint venture between MedImmune and WuXi AppTec to develop and commercialise MEDI5117, a novel biologic for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, in China.
- An investment of $50 million to build an additional development and
launch facility alongside our existing manufacturing site in Wuxi City
to support the development and manufacture of innovative small molecules
discovered in China and our global R&D sites.
- Additional investments include the creation of a new global hub for Pharmaceutical Development – alongside those in the UK and Sweden - with up to 50 scientists based in Shanghai and Wuxi City, to support both China and global needs. AstraZeneca is also establishing an integrated China medicines development organisation, bringing together early and late-stage medicines development across small molecules and biologics.
