AstraZeneca Announces $2.5 Billion Beijing R&D Hub Amid Expansion in China

The pharmaceutical giant plans to triple its workforce in Beijing and collaborate with local biotech firms despite ongoing investigations into its operations in China.

AstraZeneca will invest $2.5 billion over five years to establish a new research and development hub in Beijing, its second R&D facility in China.
The investment will increase the company's Beijing workforce from 600 to approximately 1,700 employees and focus on early-stage research, clinical development, and AI-driven drug discovery.
As part of the initiative, AstraZeneca has partnered with three Chinese biotech companies—Harbour BioMed, Syneron Bio, and BioKangtai—to advance drug development and vaccine manufacturing.
The announcement follows ongoing investigations by Chinese authorities into alleged illegal drug imports and data privacy violations, including the detention of AstraZeneca's former China president, Leon Wang.
This initiative is part of AstraZeneca's broader $11 billion commitment to collaborations in China, highlighting its strategic focus on the country's growing life sciences ecosystem.