AstraZeneca Announces Additional Investment at CIIE to Build Small Molecule Drug Manufacturing Facility in China

As a "long-time friend" participating in the sixth year, AstraZeneca, a global leading multinational pharmaceutical company, attended the 6th China International Import Expo. At this CIIE, AstraZeneca's 1,000-square-meter booth..."Thirty Years, Leaping Forward - In China, For China, Benefit the World"Focusing on the theme, comprehensively showcase the new progress of investment and layout in China, as well as the achievements in promoting green and sustainable development in the fields of drug research and development, production operations, and business models.

Increase Investment in China

Solidify Development Commitments

"The CIIE Effect" highlights the "global magnetism" of the Chinese market, further attracting AstraZeneca to become a firm investor in China. On the first day of the CIIE,AstraZeneca has reached multiple collaborations with Jiangsu Province, Shandong Province, and Guangdong Province, further deepening its local presence and reinforcing its long-term commitment to development in China.

On the opening day, AstraZeneca announced a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Jiangsu Province, including plansAstraZeneca Invests Nearly $400 Million in Wuxi to Build a New Small Molecule Drug FactoryIt is expected that in the future, small molecule drugs to be launched in China will be manufactured and packaged at the new Wuxi plant, supplying both the domestic and overseas markets.AstraZeneca also signed a framework agreement on investment cooperation for the Andas project with Taizhou Medical High-tech Industrial Development Zone., on the basis of the newly built Andatang production line last year, additional investment has been made to construct a new production line for Andashi, continuously establishing Taizhou as AstraZeneca's global production base for diabetes products. After commencement of operations, the annual output value of Taizhou’s production and supply base is expected to reach 10 billion RMB. In addition,AstraZeneca also launched a strategic cooperation on Wuxi's smart city health big data with Wuxi High-tech Zone, Wuxi Big Data Group, LinkDoc Technology, and Zhi Zhong Medical.

On the same day,AstraZeneca has also reached multiple agreements with Shandong Province, including the signing of the second-phase project for the Qingdao inhalation aerosol production and supply base.In March this year, AstraZeneca's inhalation aerosol production base project, with an investment of 450 million US dollars, officially settled in Qingdao High-tech Zone. In August, AstraZeneca added another 250 million US dollars to increase filling production capacity and add a new inhalation aerosol packaging production line, bringing the total investment to 700 million US dollars, which will make the Qingdao factory an important part of AstraZeneca's global pharmaceutical supply chain. During this year's CIIE, AstraZeneca further deepened its cooperation with Shandong Province.Signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Shandong Provincial Medical Security Bureau, both parties will strengthen the cooperation in the medical security system for rare diseases in terms of drug marketing, medical insurance, and commercial insurance., to boost the opening up and innovative development of Shandong's entire biopharmaceutical industry chain. On the same day, AstraZeneca signed a rare disease strategic cooperation framework agreement with Jinan High-tech Zone. AstraZeneca plans to establish a rare disease collaboration project in Jinan High-tech Zone, focusing on rare disease research and committing to developing more innovative drugs, aiming to help prevent rare, ultra-rare, and complex diseases.

In addition,AstraZeneca also reached multiple strategic cooperation agreements with Guangdong Province, including the holding of the 2023 Guangzhou Development Zone Huangpu District AstraZeneca Guangzhou Company Drug Introduction Signing Ceremony, and the 2023 AstraZeneca Oncology Drug Imjudo and Rare Disease Drug Strensiq Rapid Access Launch Ceremony in the Greater Bay Area. Leveraging the "Yuegang Medical Device Access" pilot policy, the rapid access of these two drugs will greatly enhance the early availability of clinically urgent drugs, enrich medical institutions' means to address diseases, and bring hope to patients in need. Meanwhile, the AstraZeneca-Guangzhou Bio Island International Life Science Innovation Park is also capitalizing on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by launching the park's supporting fund, the "Guangzhou Bio Island Life Science Innovation Park Venture Capital Fund." It hopes to promote the settlement of more high-quality domestic and international "specialized, refined, unique, and innovative" enterprises in Guangzhou through the linkage of the base and the fund.

Accelerate the Introduction of New Global Drugs

Driving Chinese Innovation Overseas

As an important platform for China to expand its opening-up, the CIIE is a new fulcrum for global enterprises to share opportunities in China.AstraZeneca continues to deepen its collaboration with China's local innovative forces, building an important bridge for China's locally developed achievements to reach the global stage.At this year's CIIE, AstraZeneca Brazil, Beida Weixing Biotechnology Co., Ltd. under Luye Pharma Group, and Brazil's Herbarium company signed a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation, announcing that they will jointly promote the registration and commercialization of Lipid Complex Capsules in Brazil. This collaboration aims to further establish a strategic partnership for Lipid Complex Capsules in markets outside of China, collectively advancing the globalization of traditional Chinese medicine.

At the same time,AstraZeneca actively expands its "circle of friends" in medical science and innovation, connecting China and the global pharmaceutical R&D in multiple dimensions.At this year's CIIE, AstraZeneca partnered with Ascentage Pharma to hold a signing ceremony for a registrational clinical research collaboration. The two parties will conduct joint research to help improve remission rates and achieve time-limited treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. They are also committed to exporting China’s innovative breakthroughs and cutting-edge technologies to the global market. On the same day, AstraZeneca also held a signing ceremony with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group for a collaborative project on confirmatory research for lung cancer targeted therapies. Both parties will sign a strategic cooperation framework agreement in the field of oncology treatment, aiming to provide new options for patients.

In addition,AstraZeneca continues to collaborate with partners to promote the construction of a health innovation ecosystem.Qingdao International Life Science Innovation Park iCampus was also announced on the first day of the CIIE. It will build a themed industrial park specializing in rare diseases and respiratory specialty disease fields, aiming to gather resources from the broader health ecosystem including government, industry, academia, research, medical, and investment sectors to help Qingdao High-tech Zone become a highland for the health industry.iCampus, the international life science innovation parks in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing, have also welcomed new companies to settle in.Shanghai iCampus Welcomes New Companies: NewBud Gene and Hong Kong Universal Benevolence Clinical Research Center. Chengdu iCampus Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Yiviva, a Biotech Company in the Clinical Stage, to Jointly Promote the Innovative Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Cutting-edge Pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, Chengdu iCampus also Introduces Nine New Resident Enterprises to Deepen Support for the Development of Western China’s Pharmaceutical Ecosystem. Additionally, Beijing iCampus Completes the Introduction of Yaoli Technology, with Both Parties Set to Expand Collaboration in the Field of Chronic Disease Digital Management.

*：As of the date of publication.

Disclaimer: This material is solely for use at the 2023 CIIE and is not intended for any promotional purposes. Some products and indications mentioned in the article have not yet been approved, and AstraZeneca does not recommend the use of any unapproved drugs.