Biopharmaceutical company Akeso has broken ground on a new research and development (R&D) centre in Shanghai, China.

The ceremony for the Shanghai Global R&D Center took place at the Zhangjiang headquarters park.

Akeso has planned to spend approximately 850m yuan on the new project, which encompasses an area of 14,454.90m², with a total construction area of 66,568.86m².

The new centre represents a key move in Akeso's strategy for global innovation and contributes to the company's ongoing and rapid development of solutions, strengthening its global competitive position in new drug development.

Akeso chair, president, and CEO Dr Yu Xia said: “The establishment of Akeso's global R&D centre marks a significant milestone in our unwavering commitment and confidence to expedite the implementation of our global expansion strategy.

“I eagerly anticipate collaborating with industry partners to enhance the global competitiveness of Akeso's innovative drug research and speed up commercialisation.

“By doing so, we can assist Zhangjiang in Shanghai in constructing a world-class biopharmaceutical industry cluster, facilitate the internationalisation of China's domestic innovative drugs, and ultimately benefit Chinese and global patients.”

Utilising Akeso's drug innovation and development system, the new centre will synchronise with the group's R&D strategy and help it actively stay ahead of the latest global research trends.

The site aims to concentrate on the latest advancements in gene therapy, cell therapy, neurological diseases, and anti-ageing solutions.