AstraZeneca breaks ground on new small molecule drug factory in Wuxi

A ceremony marking the start of construction on AstraZeneca's new small molecule drug factory is held in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, on May 8. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

AstraZeneca, a globally leading biopharmaceutical company, kicked off construction on a new small molecule drug manufacturing facility in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, on May 8, marking a milestone in its efforts to expand in China.

The $475 million project will adopt cutting-edge continuous direct compression technology and sustainable packaging production lines, with digitalization and intelligent manufacturing integrated throughout the entire operation.

"The investment in the new small molecule factory underscores our confidence in China's role as a key player in our global supply network and landscape," said Tony Pusic, senior vice-president of global operations at AstraZeneca.

"Wuxi's strategic location, robust infrastructure, and talented workforce make it an ideal and competitive hub for the biopharma industry," he noted.

Since establishing operations in Wuxi in 1993, AstraZeneca has invested over $1 billion in the city. Today, Wuxi serves as the company's hub for production, distribution, sales, and innovation in China. The Wuxi site was also named to the World Economic Forum Global Lighthouse Network – Jiangsu's first pharma lighthouse.

To date, AstraZeneca has introduced more than 40 innovative medicines to China, its second-largest market globally. In 2024, the company topped the list of pharmaceutical firms by revenue in emerging markets and retained its position as the sales leader in China's pharma sector.