AstraZeneca invests additional $136 million to expand Qingdao inhalants facility

This latest commitment brings the British pharmaceutical company’s total investment at the site to $886 million

AstraZeneca has announced an additional investment of $136 million to expand its state-of-the-art inhalants production base in Qingdao, China. This latest commitment brings the British pharmaceutical company’s total investment at the site to $886 million. The announcement was made at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), underscoring AstraZeneca’s continued confidence in and commitment to the Chinese healthcare market.

The new investment comes amid ongoing drug pricing negotiations between global manufacturers and the Chinese government for inclusion in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). AstraZeneca’s innovative medicines—including the injectable asthma biologic Fasenra, as well as oncology therapies TruqapandCalquence—are among those seeking expanded access under the national insurance scheme.

AstraZeneca first unveiled plans for the Qingdao facility in 2022, signing a $450 million investment agreement with the local government the following year. Initially designed to expand production capacity for its chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inhaler Breztri Aerosphere, the site has since become a cornerstone