Roche to set up new R&D center, add investment in China

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche is looking to establish an independent R&D center in China within three years as part of a grand plan to add investment in the country over the next decade.

Hong Chow, CEO of Roche Pharma China, said during the third China International Import Expo that the company has prioritized R&D input in China as a core pillar of Roche's 2030 strategy.

"Roche has been a true beneficiary of China's ever-improving business environment," Chow said. "We are excited to see that, instead of pausing, China has chosen to further its opening-up efforts amid global economic complexities."

She referred to President Xi Jinping's speech on the opening ceremony of the CIIE, saying she is heartened by the expected shortening of the negative list for foreign investment.

"It's not just the Chinese market, but the world market (that we are accessing). That's why we are fully confident in China," she said.

As a third-time participant of the CIIE, Roche is showcasing a wide array of innovative products and therapies covering major diseases such as cancer immunotherapy, hematologic tumors, influenza and rare diseases.

The exhibits include the world's first immunotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.