Global life sciences company Cytiva has officially opened its expanded Shanghai facility, a most recent move by the company to tap the biopharma industry in China.

With a total area of 11,000 square meters and a combined investment of 100 million yuan ($13.73 million), the fully operational facility is designed to help advance and accelerate the development of novel therapeutics.

It offers a wide range of technologies, solutions, and services, including Cytiva's Fast Trak training center, a Center of Excellence for single-use technologies, and a new automation and digital lab.

It is also home to online experience center, customized bioprocess solutions labs and compliance validation labs.

All the updated and expanded functions in the new facility aim to respond to the needs of the fast-evolving biotechnology industry in China, especially in talent training, the adoption of automation and digitalization, and personalized therapies, the company said in a release.

Edward Zhou, president of Cytiva in China, said the company cannot wait to see the innovation and progress that will happen in the new facility.

He also said that having the latest equipment and digital tools and capabilities for important scientific research will be a great draw for talent in the region.

Cytiva's 2023 Global Biopharma Resilience Index, a survey of 1,250 biopharma and pharma executives in 22 countries, showed that 59 percent of respondents in China believe the country is somewhat adapted to supporting the rollout of personalized medicines and cell and gene therapies. 20 percent said that it is extremely adapted.

A total of 83 percent agree that China is quite or very effective at integrating and making use of advanced digital technologies associated with the digitalization of pharmaceutical industry, which brings a great competitive advantage.

liuzhihua@chinadaily.com.cn