WuXi AppTec
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical devices |
| Founded | December 1, 2000 in Shanghai, China |
| Founder | Ge Li |
| Headquarters | Shanghai , China |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing services, medical device testing |
| Website | www |
WuXi AppTec (pronounced Wu-shee) operates as an international enterprise in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device sectors.
History
Established in Shanghai in December 2000 by organic chemist Ge Li, WuXi PharmaTech had expanded to include chemistry operations in Tianjin by 2007. The acquisition of US-based AppTec Laboratory Services Inc., a specialist in medical-device and biologics testing, occurred in 2008, prompting a rebranding to WuXi AppTec. In 2009, the company inaugurated a toxicology center located in Suzhou.
WuXi STA, one of its subsidiaries, commenced operations at a large-scale manufacturing site in Jinshan in 2010. The following year, WuXi AppTec enhanced its biologics discovery, development, and manufacturing capabilities across Shanghai and Wuxi City. Additionally, it acquired MedKey, a clinical research organization based in China, along with Abgent, a prominent antibody producer from San Diego. In 2012, the firm launched a chemistry facility in Wuhan and established a GMP-certified biologics drug-substance plant in Wuxi City. That same year, WuXi entered into a collaboration with AstraZeneca's MedImmune to jointly develop an anti-IL6 antibody targeting the Chinese market. In 2013, it partnered with global CRO PRA International to expand clinical research operations within China.
The year 2014 saw WuXi AppTec open a biosafety testing laboratory for biologics in Suzhou and acquire XenoBiotic Laboratories, a CRO known for bioanalytical and pharmacokinetic expertise. In 2015, the company introduced WuXi NextCODE after acquiring bioinformatics firm NextCODE Health from Icelandic deCODE genetics. Also during 2015, WuXi completed a $3.3 billion all-cash merger with New WuXi Life Science Limited.
In 2016, WuXi STA broadened its footprint by adding new campuses in Changzhou and San Diego. That year also included the purchase of Crelux GmbH, a Munich-based provider specializing in structure-based drug discovery. The expansion continued in 2017 with the acquisition of HD Biosciences (HDB), further diversifying its preclinical drug discovery services.
In January 2024, shares of WuXi AppTec dropped following the introduction of US Congressional legislation that barred federal contracts due to national security concerns linked to alleged connections with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) military-civil fusion strategy—claims which the company has refuted. While US lawmakers pushed for sanctions, WuXi initiated lobbying efforts to challenge these accusations. US intelligence agencies accused the company of unauthorized transfer of US intellectual property to the PLA.
By October 2024, amid regulatory pressures from the Biosecure Act and growing client apprehension, WuXi contemplated divesting its facilities located in the US and Europe. Subsequently, in December 2024, it revealed intentions to sell Oxford Genetics and WuXi Advanced Therapies to a private equity firm based in the United States.