Pfizer Increases R&D Commitment in China

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) will expand its China R&D operations by adding facilities in central and western China, according to a Reuters story. The company will build a new clinical R&D center in Wuhan, which will support global clinical drug programs, including Phase I-IV clinical trials. Pfizer did not announce the size of capital commitment to the new R&D center.

Earlier this month, Pfizer announced it would close six of its 20 R&D centers around the world in the wake of its takeover of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. At the time, we noted the company considered its Shanghai facility to be important enough to shield it from any cutbacks. Now it seems that the company is actually increasing its commitment to performing R&D work in China.

The Wuhan center, which expects to employ 200 people within three years, will also develop research collaborations with local companies.

Pfizer’s Shanghai R&D facility will remain the operations hub for Pfizer’s China R&D activities. The Shanghai center started operations with 14 employees in 2005, a number that grew to 342 by this past summer.

The Wuhan center will be a joint effort between Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. and its China partner Wuhan National Bioindustry Base Construction and Management Office.

Disclosure: none.

Comments

[BlueOkie]

Makes sense! PFE sells more outside the US than in. Of Approx $12B in sales, $7B was outside the US. Depending on the healthcare bill tax provisions, more and more R&D may move offshore.

2009 Nov 26 08:19 AM

[a. palmer jr.]

I guess now we'll have to worry about lead in our medicine!

2009 Nov 26 10:26 AM

[biomedlives]

This story isn't very encouraging for Americans thinking of going into organic chemistry or molecular biology in the pharmaceutical industry.

2009 Nov 26 01:43 PM

[a. palmer jr.]

It's just a matter of time before China gets greedy like we did and wants more than slave wages for their work. Then where do we turn? Bangladesh maybe?

2009 Nov 26 08:28 PM

[ray b]

Viet nam


On Nov 26 08:28 PM a. palmer jr. wrote:

> It's just a matter of time before China gets greedy like we did and
> wants more than slave wages for their work. Then where do we turn?
> Bangladesh maybe?

2009 Dec 05 06:37 AM