Drug giant AstraZeneca to open Hong Kong R&D centre by late 2024 at earliest with focus on cell and gene therapies
- Drug maker says it hopes to expand workforce at the research and development centre to around 100 in next five years
- R&D facility in the Lok Ma Chau Loop technology hub will be the first of its kind in the city
A research base that drug giant AstraZeneca plans to open in Hong Kong is expected to be ready by late 2024 at the earliest and will focus on developing cell and gene therapies.
The Anglo-Swedish drug maker on Friday said it hoped to expand the number of staff at the research and development centre, to be located in the Lok Ma Chau Loop technology hub near the mainland China border, to around 100 in the next five years.
To mark the establishment of the R&D centre and an incubator platform, Hong Kong iCampus, a plaque unveiling ceremony was held at the government headquarters in Admiralty on Friday. The R&D facility will be the first of its kind in the city to be set up by one of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical firms.
Leon Wang Lei, AstraZeneca’s China president, revealed that the centre would focus on research related to cell and gene therapies, considered to be next-generation therapeutics.
“Areas of the treatments could cover autoimmune diseases, oncology, rare diseases,” said Wang, also executive vice-president for the firm’s international region.
“A lot of clinical trials will also gradually be done in Hong Kong.”
AstraZeneca was among more than 30 foreign and mainland Chinese companies that recently pledged to invest about HK$30 billion in Hong Kong, in an effort coordinated by the government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises.