AstraZeneca Opens Registration for Global R&D Leadership Event in China

As one of the first multinational pharmaceutical companies to enter China, AstraZeneca has been committed to deepening its presence in the country, enhancing its R&D capabilities in China, and contributing to the development of China’s pharmaceutical R&D ecosystem. By fully leveraging China’s scientific research capabilities, clinical resources, and innovative strength, AstraZeneca aims to empower, accelerate, and lead global new drug development. In recent years, the company has further intensified efforts to boost its independent R&D capabilities in China and strengthen collaborative innovation with Chinese partners. Since 2023, AstraZeneca has entered into nine global collaboration agreements with Chinese biotechnology companies, covering multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, hypertension, and weight management. Notably, this includes the $1.2 billion acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies, marking a strong strategic entry into the cell therapy sector. In February 2024, AstraZeneca announced another upgrade of its Global R&D China Center, elevating it to a global strategic R&D hub on par with its centers in Cambridge (UK), Gaithersburg (US), Gothenburg (Sweden), and Boston (US). This move fully demonstrates AstraZeneca’s recognition of China’s strategic importance and its confidence in China’s scientific research and innovation capabilities.

Amid the ongoing strengthening of innovative collaboration with China, a nearly 20-member global R&D team from AstraZeneca’s Chronic and Rare Diseases division visited China in late September. Led by Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President and Head of BioPharmaceuticals R&D; Seng Cheng, Senior Vice President and Head of Rare Disease Research and Product Development; and Gianluca Pirozzi, Head of Rare Disease Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Patient Safety, the team sought face-to-face exchanges and collaboration opportunities with top scientists from Chinese research institutes, clinical research experts, and life sciences technology companies, while fully supporting the 2024 AstraZeneca China R&D Day.

As a key platform for exchanges between AstraZeneca’s global R&D team and China’s scientific and innovative communities, the AstraZeneca China R&D Day, themed “Science Benefits All, Innovation Drives R&D,” has been successfully held four times. Since 2023, the event has focused on oncology, chronic diseases, and rare diseases, with sessions organized in both the first and second halves of the year. The upcoming AstraZeneca China R&D Day on Chronic and Rare Diseases will take place in Shanghai on September 27–28. It will feature one main forum and eight sub-forums, focusing on topics such as bronchial diseases, hypertension, kidney diseases, infectious diseases, multi-omics research, cell therapy, gene therapy, and patient care. AstraZeneca’s global R&D leadership looks forward to exploring new collaboration opportunities in these fields, supporting the global expansion of Chinese innovations, and working together to reshape the life trajectories of patients with chronic and rare diseases.

For detailed information about this R&D Day, on-site registration, and the online live streaming channel, please scan the QR code on the poster.