AstraZeneca, the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology firm, has announced a $15bn investment in China through 2030, aiming to advance medicines manufacturing and research and development (R&D).

The investment is set to leverage the country’s scientific expertise, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and China-UK healthcare collaborations for delivering new treatments to patients in China and worldwide.

It was revealed during the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China and is expected to strengthen healthcare innovation ties between China and the UK.

AstraZeneca stated that the initiative will benefit the nations’ life sciences ecosystems.

The investment will enhance AstraZeneca’s capabilities in cell therapy and radioconjugates, supporting its pipeline for cancer, haematological conditions, and autoimmune diseases.

It will be made across the value chain, from drug discovery and clinical development to production.

AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said: “By expanding our capabilities in breakthrough treatments like cell therapy and radioconjugates, we will strengthen our contribution to China’s high-quality development and, most importantly, bring next-generation modalities to patients.”

AstraZeneca will also bring Chinese innovation to global markets through partnerships with biotechs such as CSPC, AbelZeta, Harbour BioMed, Jacobio, and Syneron Bio.

Following its acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies in 2024, it is set to become the first global biopharmaceutical company with end-to-end cell therapy capabilities in China.

The company’s R&D footprint includes strategic centres in Beijing and Shanghai, collaborating with more than 500 clinical hospitals.

AstraZeneca will further develop its manufacturing facilities in Beijing, Qingdao, Taizhou, and Wuxi, which supply medicines to patients in China and 70 markets globally.

Additionally, the company plans to establish new sites, with details to be announced. These investments are expected to expand its workforce in China beyond 20,000 and create several additional jobs across the healthcare sector.

AstraZeneca is building on its collaboration with the University of Cambridge and Beijing, and is working with other institutions such as HSBC, King’s College London, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Oxford to foster further partnerships between the two countries’ research and financial ecosystems.

The investment aligns with the Healthy China 2030 initiative and will support China’s ‘Common Health’ agenda to expand prevention, early detection, and access to new medicines for underserved communities.