Western Biopharmaceutical Firms Get Toehold in Shanghai, Seek to Expand

Attracted by Shanghai government policies designed to encourage the development of the pharmaceutical industry, Western drug manufacturers are setting up shop in China’s financial hub.

The biopharmaceutical firms are partnering with Chinese industry leaders, taking advantage of a reservoir of talented biopharma researchers in the city with expertise in genomics, gene sequencing methods, and new systems of disease screening and diagnosis. Among the pioneers are Illumina, a DNA sequencing company headquartered in San Diego, as well as Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche.

To attract more investment, Shanghai plans to build new facilities, including labs and manufacturing sites, and to improve transport, supply chains, and production capabilities, city officials announced recently.