AstraZeneca on Wednesday announced plans to invest $15 billion in China through 2030 to expand medicines manufacturing and research and development, strengthening its capabilities across drug discovery, clinical development, and advanced manufacturing.
The investment will focus on next-generation therapies, including cell therapy and radioconjugates, and is intended to support AstraZeneca’s 2030 growth ambitions. The company said the move will leverage China’s scientific expertise, advanced manufacturing base, and growing China-UK healthcare collaboration to deliver innovative treatments for patients in China and globally.
The announcement was made during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China. Starmer said the investment would help AstraZeneca continue to grow as a British manufacturer while supporting jobs in the UK and strengthening the country’s life sciences sector through expanded research and development.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot described the investment as a “landmark” step for the company in China, calling the country a critical contributor to scientific innovation and global public health. He said the expansion would enhance AstraZeneca’s ability to develop breakthrough treatments and bring new therapeutic modalities to patients.
As part of the plan, AstraZeneca will significantly scale its capabilities in cell therapy and radioconjugates, areas that underpin its oncology, haematology, and autoimmune disease pipeline. The investments will span the full value chain and include partnerships with Chinese biotechnology companies such as AbelZeta, CSPC, Harbour BioMed, Jacobio, and Syneron Bio. Building on its 2024 acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies, the company said it will become the first global biopharmaceutical firm with end-to-end cell therapy capabilities in China.
The company will also expand its existing R&D and manufacturing footprint, including global R&D centres in Beijing and Shanghai and manufacturing sites in Wuxi, Taizhou, Qingdao, and Beijing, while announcing additional new facilities in the future. AstraZeneca said the investment would grow its workforce in China to more than 20,000 and create thousands of additional jobs across the healthcare ecosystem.
AstraZeneca added that the investment aligns with China’s Healthy China 2030 goals and the country’s “Common Health” agenda, with a focus on prevention, early diagnosis, and improved access to innovative medicines, particularly for underserved communities.
China is AstraZeneca’s second-largest market and a key hub for global innovation. The company has operated in the country since 1993 and said its medicines benefited around 68 million patients in China in 2025 alone.
