The structural completion ceremony for AstraZeneca's Wuxi small molecule drug factory is held in WND. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The structural completion ceremony for AstraZeneca's Wuxi small molecule drug factory was held on Dec 19 in Wuxi National Hi-Tech District, also known as WND.

An aerial view of AstraZeneca's small molecule drug factory in WND. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The $475-million project broke ground on May 8 and is scheduled to be put into operation in 2028. It will feature continuous direct compression (CDC) and sustainable packaging production lines, establishing a world-class biopharmaceutical production base.

It will become a model factory for AstraZeneca's intelligent manufacturing and sustainable development. Small molecule drugs to be launched by AstraZeneca in China are expected to be formulated and packaged at the Wuxi site and be supplied to overseas markets.

The new factory will further consolidate Wuxi's important role in AstraZeneca's global supply chain and inject strong impetus into the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry in WND.

WND was AstraZeneca's first investment destination in China and remains its preferred location for the introduction of new medicines, expanding manufacturing capacity and increasing investment in innovation. The company has invested more than $1 billion in Wuxi to date, making it a strong example of mutually reinforcing growth between multinational enterprises and a local economy.