Boehringer Ingelheim Expands China Presence With New Shanghai R&D Center

Boehringer Ingelheim, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has announced that it plans to establish a new R&D center in Shanghai later this year.

The company also aims to expand its operations in the country across various sectors, including the manufacturing and commercialization of human pharmaceuticals and animal health products.

Boehringer plans to expand its presence in China's innovation ecosystem to allow Chinese scientific and clinical expertise to contribute to global drug development and bring more innovative solutions to Chinese and global patients and customers.

The R&D center in Zhangjiang is expected to strengthen both external business development and clinical development capabilities in China, reinforce partnerships with the Chinese biotech sector, and accelerate the discovery and development of breakthrough therapies.

"China is becoming an increasingly important location in the global pharmaceutical innovation landscape," said Ioannis Sapountzis, president and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim China.

"Expanding our presence in China reflects our long-term commitment to the market and is fundamental to our global innovation strategy. By connecting China's scientific capabilities, clinical insights and industry ecosystem, we aim to bring Chinese innovation into global R&D in a more integrated way and accelerate its translation into solutions that improve health outcomes for patients.

"The R&D center strengthens our ability to work with leading hospitals, investigators, academic institutions and biotechnology innovators in China, helping us to translate discoveries into future medicines for the patients around the world that we serve," he noted.

Sapountzis, who has led the China business since March 1, said he strongly believes in its goal to bring innovation to as many Chinese patients as possible and that the local innovative space is growing rapidly.

"Our 2035 China ambition is built on one guiding principle: In China, for China, and for the world," he added.

China plays several roles for Boehringer Ingelheim; it's not only a growth engine but also an innovation source, a global R&D engine, a localization backbone for commercial supply, and a talent hub, he added.

The new R&D center will help collect early clinical evidence and proof-of-concept data for patients in need by using China's high-quality and efficient clinical resources, diverse patient groups, and active innovation environment, which will guide important decisions to move promising treatments into later stages of development.

Jonathan Chin, general manager of Boehringer Ingelheim China's Human Pharma Business, said two new medicines, Jascayd (nerandomilast), for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, and Hernexeos (zongertinib), for HER2-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer, were launched in China earlier this year.

"This was made possible thanks to the speeding up of the regulatory approval process in China, as well as the acceleration throughout all the value chain, including customs clearance, inspections and supply network, and we're able to make sure that Chinese patients get their hands on our innovation as soon as possible," he noted.

"Our overall plans to further leverage China as a growth engine, as an innovation source, as a global R&D engine, as a localization backbone for supply chain, and as a talent hub are expected to unlock the full potential while helping us to create value for the Chinese healthcare ecosystem, and we remain committed to turning our vision in China into reality," he added.

The company expects to receive up to 20 regulatory approvals in China by 2030 across key areas, including cardio-renal-metabolic diseases, respiratory diseases, oncology and eye health.

Nearly 10 new animal health products and indications for key livestock and companion animals are expected by 2030.

In the animal health sector, it will further leverage the Animal Health Global Innovation China Center to address evolving local market needs, with a focus on livestock vaccines and pet healthcare.

The company will accelerate the development and introduction of innovative products, strengthen its portfolio for China and global markets, and continue upgrading its manufacturing sites in Nanchang and Taizhou.