Pfizer animal health spinoff Zoetis officially broke ground for its combo complex in Suzhou, China, that will house a global manufacturing, supply and research and development center.
The new innovation and manufacturing facility will include 43,000 square meters of vaccine manufacturing operations and laboratory space. Construction is expected to be completed and the plant certified by Chinese authorities by 2021.
The cost of the project hasn’t been disclosed. Zoetis reported revenue of $174 million in China in 2017. The company began operations in China in 1995 and has approximately 600 employees and commercial headquarters in Shanghai.
“With this new center for vaccine innovation co-located with expanded manufacturing capabilities in Suzhou, and a team of highly trained field representatives, we are well-positioned to help China’s livestock farmers answer increasing demand for a safe and abundant supply of pork, milk, beef and fish,” Mike Wang, SVP for Zoetis in China, said in a statement.
When completed, the facility in Suzhou will focus on development and production of vaccines for swine, cattle, fish and companion animals in China. According to Vetnosis, China is the world’s second largest animal health market, valued at $4.3 billion in 2017.
In 2015, Zoetis acquired aquatic vaccine maker Pharmaq for $765 million. A year later it paid $85 million for Nexvet, which develops species-specific monoclonal antibodies to treat osteoarthritis pain and other disorders in companion animals.