Germany-based pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim’s veterinary research and development (R&D) centre is located within its R&D site in Shanghai, China.
Officially inaugurated in May 2018, the new facility was developed to strengthen the collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim and animal health company Merial. The two companies officially merged in January 2017 and teams from both companies now work together at the centre.
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Boehringer invested more than €19m ($22.7m) in the R&D centre. It is the company’s third research facility, with the other two being located in Europe and North America.
The R&D facility aims to develop solutions for the prevention and control of animal diseases in China and South East Asia.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s veterinary R&D centre details
Located in Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, the integrated R&D centre covers a 3,300m² area. The facility is currently involved in the discovery and development of 30 ongoing pipeline projects, some of which have already reached a late phase of development.
In March 2012, Boehringer opened a veterinary research centre focused on the development of solutions for livestock diseases. The centre formed the base for the development of the company’s new integrated R&D centre.
The centre is expected to launch five novel vaccines targeting the Chinese market by 2020. The veterinary R&D facility has recently launched two innovative vaccines, NNA and LDT3-A, indicated for the treatment of infectious bronchitis.
There are currently more than 110 researchers working at the centre.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s animal healthcare unit details
Boehringer Ingelheim’s animal health business develops vaccines, parasiticides and pharmaceuticals that aim to ensure that no animal suffers from a preventable disease. The unit is also engaged in developing novel therapies for chronic diseases to manage and reduce disease progression in animals.
The unit’s biological R&D team is engaged in producing vaccines for pigs, cattle, poultry, horses and domestic animals (pets).
China is considered the second biggest market for Boehringer’s animal health business unit, contributing to 6.4% of the company’s global sales.
The new R&D facility was set up to further expand the presence of Boehringer’s animal health business in China. The company intends to collaborate with local academic institutions and universities to jointly contribute to enhancing China’s animal health industry.
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Founded in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies. The company is based in Ingelheim, Germany, and has 181 subsidiaries worldwide. It employs more than 50,000 people across all its facilities.
Boehringer operates a biologics manufacturing facility in Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, which was opened in May 2017 with a €70m ($76m) investment. In 2018, the company also opened an 8,000m² veterinary trial centre in Taizhou.
In 2017, Boehringer recorded revenue of around €18.1bn ($21.6bn). The company invested around €3bn ($3.59bn) in R&D, which accounted for 17% of its total sales.
Boehringer’s animal health business unit has a sales turnover of more than €3.9bn ($4.6bn) and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide.
