Novartis invests $1b in China R&D plant

Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG is investing $1 billion to build the largest pharmaceutical research plant in China, emphasizing the importance of developing markets for future growth.

Novartis and other drugmakers are keen to tap into markets such as China as they face slowing growth and loss of exclusivity on key products, including the Swiss group's top-selling blood pressure medicine Diovan. Novartis said it was also investing $250 million in a second research and development and manufacturing facility in Changshu.
 

Source: BizChina