30 years on: AstraZeneca eyes a healthy future

2023 marks the 30th anniversary of biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca's entrance into China.

"China's medical and healthcare industry has experienced booming development over the past three decades," said Leon Wang, executive vice-president and international and China president of AstraZeneca, at the anniversary celebration held on May 19 in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, where the company started its Chinese business 30 years ago.

He noted that AstraZeneca is honored to be a witness to and beneficiary of such a process.

The biopharmaceutical company's first decade in China was dedicated to bringing innovative medicines to the country, the second decade increased investment in manufacturing, and the third decade focused on the continuous investment and construction of a health innovation ecosystem, according to Wang.

Currently, AstraZeneca has introduced nearly 40 innovative medicines to China and by 2030 another 15 are expected to be available in the country.

As early as 2001, the biopharmaceutical company saw the huge potential of China in manufacturing and invested over $100 million in building a supply base in Wuxi, which was then AstraZeneca's largest facility of its kind in Asia.

Wuxi is now a strategic city for AstraZeneca, as it features headquarters functions in production, management, research and development, innovation, capital, and talent.

Since those earlier days AstraZeneca has ramped up investment in China, constructing an efficient supply network. To date, the company has provided nearly 70 countries and regions with high-quality medicines made in China.

Entering the third decade, the biopharmaceutical company continued expanding its presence in China and worked on the building of a health innovation ecosystem, which includes the China Commercial Innovation Center (CCiC) , the International Life Science Innovation Campus, and the medical industry AZ-CICC Fund.

"China has become AstraZeneca's second largest market in the world and an important growth driver," said Michael Lai, general manager of AstraZeneca China. "We are always optimistic about the development potential in China and are looking forward to cooperating with our partners to contribute to a healthy China."