Hong Kong’s thriving ecosystem for medical innovation has proved to be the right choice for AstraZeneca to establish a global research base in the city, according to Shan Wu, the company’s General Manager for Hong Kong and Macao.
Further complemented by connections to local innovators facilitated by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and the firm’s drug discoveries are potentially set to improve the lives of millions across the globe.
The UK pharma giant established its local operations in 1990, and over the past 35 years has introduced more than 100 products in Hong Kong and Macao.
Along the way, it has become a strategic partner of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.
AstraZeneca took a major step forward in 2023, when it opened its Global R&D China Hong Kong Centre focusing on drug development in cutting-edge fields, such as cell and gene therapy.
As the first research base established by a top 10 global pharmaceutical company in Hong Kong, the centre promotes the integration of clinical research between Hong Kong, Mainland China and global markets and enables Hong Kong patients to benefit from innovative treatments earlier.
Since the centre’s launch, the firm has tripled its research pipeline and is now supervising 46 clinical trials, involving over 130 investigators with more than 400 patients enrolled.
AstraZeneca’s success in Hong Kong is closely tied to the city’s world class medical training and management, which align with international standards, according to Ms Wu.
“Hong Kong’s medical and education institutions have earned international accreditations and boast world-class professionals and thought leaders, enabling the promotion of consistent and high-quality healthcare services and elevating the city’s reputation as a global benchmark.”
Ms Wu further notes the city’s efficient clinical trial platform, which aligns with global standards and is accepted by regulatory agencies, such as China’s National Medical Products Administration, the European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration, reducing the need for duplicate trials and accelerating drug registration.
Leveraging Asia’s medical innovation hub
To position the city as a global health and medical innovation hub, the Hong Kong SAR Government has been rolling out a series of initiatives.
Key measures include adopting a fast-track drug approval mechanism, opening medical databases to enhance research efficiency, and launching the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute to support medical research institutions conducting clinical trials.
Echoing this momentum, AstraZeneca has boosted its engagement through a series of high-profile initiatives supported by the HKTDC.
In 2024, the HKTDC introduced the pharma innovator to the Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, a research group exploring applications for stem cells in medicine led by experts from The University of Hong Kong.
Discussions facilitated by the HKTDC culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties to advance clinical applications of stem cell innovations.
The signing ceremony took place at the Asia Summit on Global Health in 2024 – organised by the HKTDC - which celebrated its 5th edition in 2025.
AstraZeneca has also been participating in other HKTDC flagship events, including the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, to make new connections.
Among other initiatives, the firm formalised a strategic partnership with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, located on the Hong Kong-Shenzhen border, which aims to further strengthen the region’s healthcare development.
Looking ahead, the pharma giant has a global target to deliver 20 new medicines by 2030, with Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China set to be one of the priority beneficiaries.
And with its R&D centre now operational, the potential for AstraZeneca’s local discoveries to reach international patients is immense.
“Just as Hong Kong acts as a superconnector, our goal is to facilitate local and mainland innovations to go global,” affirmed Ms Wu.
“We are firmly committed to delivering new medicines that truly impact patients’ lives in Hong Kong and beyond.”