Jinan Innovation Zone, AstraZeneca China to cooperate in rare diseases

The Jinan Innovation Zone and AstraZeneca China signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement for a rare disease collaboration project during the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), which commenced on Nov 5.

The project focuses on rare disease research and developing more innovative drugs to prevent, treat, and even cure rare, ultra-rare, and complex diseases.

Both sides will leverage their industrial and resource advantages to build a highland for the rare disease industry that integrates innovation research and development, industrial layout, and talent cultivation.

Home to a strong bio-pharmaceutical industry, the Jinan Innovation Zone has been ranked as the top national bio-pharmaceutical industry park in terms of comprehensive competitiveness for seven consecutive years.

China is currently AstraZeneca's second-largest market and an important element in its global research, supply, and innovation network.

AstraZeneca said that they will actively play a leading role in the industry and deepen cooperation with the Jinan Innovation Zone and attract more upstream and downstream partners in the industry ecosystem to settle in Jinan so as to build a rare disease industry ecosystem that would further enhance the influence of the bio-pharmaceutical industry in Jinan.