On March 21, 2025, AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical enterprise, signed an agreement with Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area to invest USD 2.5 billion in establishing its sixth global strategic R&D center and a high-standard industrialization project in Beijing. This will be AstraZeneca's second global strategic R&D center in China.

AstraZeneca aims to deepen collaboration with research institutions and biotech firms, leveraging cutting-edge AI and data science laboratories to facilitate early-stage drug research and clinical development.

AstraZeneca's Global CEO noted the investment as a reflection of the company’s confidence in Beijing’s ecosystem of life sciences innovation and China’s biopharmaceutical industry. He recognized Beijing's strengths in cutting-edge biology and AI as important drivers supporting the company in bringing innovative medicines to patients worldwide.

AstraZeneca also plans to establish a joint venture with BIOKANGTAI to develop, produce, and commercialize innovative medicines for respiratory and other infectious diseases. Building upon China’s advanced smart manufacturing and digital capabilities, this joint venture aims to set a new global benchmark for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

(Source: Xinhuanet.com)