Shanghai, industrial partners to co-build a world-class biopharmaceutical industry cluster

International Biopharmaceutical Industry Week 2021 opened in Shanghai on October 11, bringing together industry gurus, researchers, investors and government officials to discuss the latest trends in the biopharmaceutical industry and spur new momentum growth.

The four-day industry gathering, including an opening ceremony and 20 forums and conferences, marks the Chinese city’s latest efforts to align industry players as it aims to become a class-based industrial cluster worldwide for the biopharmaceutical sector.

Last year, Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical industry, one of the city’s three priority industries, was valued at 600 billion yuan ($ 93 billion) with gross industrial output of 140 billion yuan.

According to a directive released by the Shanghai municipal government in May, the city’s three-year biopharmacy action plan aims to increase annual industrial production to 180 billion yuan.

To achieve this goal, the city will give preferential political support to four major sectors: innovative medicines, advanced medical facilities, high-end biopharmaceutical equipment and materials, and new forms of outsourcing services. She has also worked with industry leaders to promote R&D-driven partnerships and expand the diversity of the R&D ecosystem.

“In recent years, China has emerged as a research and innovation powerhouse, Shanghai’s innovation ecosystem and its vision of becoming a leading biopharmaceutical cluster playing a central role,” said Pascal Soriot, CEO of Shanghai. ‘AstraZeneca. He noted that the company is proud to have been a part of this ecosystem and will continue this commitment in the way forward.

AstraZeneca is building an innovation ecosystem

The International Pharmaceutical R&D Innovation Forum, organized by biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on October 11, was a major event of the industry week.

At the forum, AstraZeneca inaugurated the new global R&D center in China.

Recent renovations to the center, according to AstraZeneca, have involved increased investment, pipeline expansion, hardware upgrades and increased headcount. It will function as a key driver for the company’s global R&D, extending beyond confirmatory clinical trials and commercialization to the early stage of development.

“It is a center that has an extremely important role to play in advancing the R&D and clinical trials of new drugs in China and abroad to accelerate their launch, and to help make essential innovative drugs available to consumers. patients in China and around the world, ”Soriot said. in his opening address to the forum.

Also at the forum, the company, in partnership with the Jing’an District Government in Shanghai, launched the Shanghai International Life Science Innovation Campus (Shanghai iCampus), which will serve as a one-stop innovation incubator that helps young domestic and foreign companies landing and expanding large projects.

Focusing on medical AI and digital therapy, iCampus pools the wisdom and resources of government, industry, academic and research institutes, and investors to deliver AI-powered solutions. and digital in drug development, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.

ICampus startups will benefit from AstraZeneca’s vast global innovation network, which offers numerous exchange opportunities with leading innovation facilities such as the Cambridge R&D center (UK) and BioVenture Hub in Sweden. They will also benefit from potential business collaboration opportunities with AstraZeneca, as well as support in financing, marketing and professional services.

The forum also saw the launch of the Medical Healthcare AI Innovation Center, an empowerment platform that will help accelerate the application of new AI-powered smart healthcare technologies, products and models in medical settings.

“Through these facilities, and with the support of our Healthcare Industry Fund set up in collaboration with China International Capital Corporation, we hope to launch new investments here in Shanghai and establish new partnerships that will bring many other advancements that will change the life and will help patients lead healthier lives, ”Soriot said.

The forum also included sessions covering topics on research-driven hospitals, the Fourth Yangtze River Delta Innovation Competition, Precision Medicine and Smart Remote Clinical Trials Innovation. Discussions aimed to help land innovative projects, stimulate an efficient mix of industry and capital, and accelerate the industrialization of local pharmaceutical innovation in Shanghai.

In China, for China and for the world

Since entering the Chinese market in 1993, AstraZeneca has invested more than $ 1 billion in R&D and introduced nearly 40 innovative drugs in China.

With its China headquarters in Shanghai and regional headquarters in Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou and Chengdu, the company has established a sprawling network and has grown to become the largest multinational pharmaceutical company in the world’s second-largest economy.

China is AstraZeneca’s second largest market. Last year, the company’s overall sales totaled approximately $ 5.38 billion.

Going forward, AstraZeneca will commit to building R&D-driven partnerships between governments, industries, institutions, hospitals and investors to build a more diverse R&D ecosystem in China, the company said.

“AstraZeneca has been present in China for more than a quarter of a century. Backed by our commitment to be “in China, for China”, we are making a difference in healthcare in China and advancing innovations for the benefit of patients around the world. Said Soriot.