China-based drugmaker Simcere Pharmaceutical has accelerated the construction of its research and development (R&D) Center in the Qianwan area of Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District.
The project's main structure was topped out in December 2024 and it's expected to be operational in the first half of 2026, serving as the company's core innovation engine.
Simcere's new China R&D Center is in the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
Since early 2025, Simcere has reported significant breakthroughs, with two innovative drugs gaining market approval.
QUVIVIQ offers new treatment options for insomnia, while Enzeshu provides a new option for patients with platinum treatment-resistant ovarian cancer, underscoring the company's fast-rising innovation capacity.
The Simcere (China) R&D Center will focus on major disease areas including oncology, neuroscience, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases.
By speeding up the availability of more effective medicines, the facility aims to benefit patients while strengthening the biomedicals industry in the Qianwan area.
Anchored by Simcere's national key laboratory for neuroscience and oncology drug research, the project will build a translational medicine center to tackle bottlenecks in target validation and lead compound discovery.
It will also foster collaboration among industry, academia, research and healthcare institutions.
Cutting-edge platforms are being developed — such as those for antibody-drug conjugates, AI-assisted molecule generation, small nucleic acid screening and protein engineering. Together, they'll form an end-to-end system covering drug discovery, preclinical studies and clinical research.
As a leading Chinese pharmaceutical innovator, Simcere has long been listed among the country's top 100 pharmaceutical companies.
In Qianwan, it's joining forces with private pharmaceuticals manufacturer Chia Tai Tianqing Group and Hong Kong-listed biopharma company Innovent Biologics to build a health innovation ecosystem.
