AstraZeneca invests $200m to set up manufacturing facility in China

AstraZeneca has invested $200m in a new manufacturing facility in China Medical City, Taizhou, Jiangsu province. The new plant will manufacture both intravenous and oral solid medicines.According to the company, the new plant will help meet the rising demand for its products in China besides extending its availability in urban and rural communities that have limited access to established medicines. AstraZeneca China president Mark Mallon said the manufacturing facility will meet the medical needs of Chinese patients with medicines that are locally produced.”In particular, it will help us to reach out to more of the estimated 900 million people in urban and rural communities who have had less access to high quality medicines,” Mallon added.The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.