China National Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd (Sinopharm) and Switzerland-headquartered Lonza Group held a signing ceremony in the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) on May 16 to renew their joint venture, Suzhou Capsugel Limited, for another 20 years.

On May 16, Sinopharm and Lonza sign an agreement to extend their joint venture, Suzhou Capsugel Limited, for 20 years. [Photo/sinopharm.com] 

During the discussion meeting, Jiang Weiming, director of the SIP’s Investment Promotion Committee, welcomed both parties. He praised Sinopharm and Lonza as global pharmaceutical leaders and acknowledged their long-standing cooperation, which has enabled Suzhou Capsugel to become the largest empty capsule manufacturer in Asia, contributing significantly to the growth of China’s pharmaceutical industry. 

Jiang pledged to support high-quality medical innovation and expressed hope that Suzhou Capsugel would bring more advanced technologies and premium products to the SIP. 

Hu Jianwei, deputy general manager of Sinopharm, said that the SIP is a hub for pharmaceutical innovation in China, offering a favorable business environment that facilitates enterprise development. He added that Suzhou Capsugel, as one of Sinopharm’s earliest China-foreign joint ventures, has delivered business results that have satisfied both domestic and foreign stakeholders over the past 40 years. 

The renewed 20-year agreement ushers in a new phase of collaboration, Hu said, adding that Sinopharm looks forward to strengthening its partnership with Lonza, expanding cooperation across broader areas and jointly shaping the future. 

Jean-Christophe Hyvert, head of Capsules & Health Ingredients at Lonza, commended its long-standing ties with Sinopharm and the efforts made to improve the wellness of patients worldwide. Looking ahead to the next 20 years, he conveyed Lonza’s commitment to continuing this close cooperation to better serve global health needs. 

Hyvert also reiterated Lonza’s plan to increase investment in China, introduce new products and technologies and further bolster Suzhou Capsugel’s development.

The renewal agreement was signed following the meeting.