Boehringer Ingelheim opens new veterinary research centre in China

Boehringer Ingelheim has expanded the capabilities of its global animal health operations with the opening of a new Chinese research and development centre.

The site is located in Zhangjiang, Shanghai and will cost 12 million euros (ten million pounds), becoming the largest veterinary research site to be established in China by a multinational pharmaceutical company.

Around 70 new scientific jobs will be created by the new facility, which will predominantly focus on developing innovative vaccines against swine and poultry diseases affecting the agriculture sector.

As well as helping Boehringer Ingelheim to meet consumer demand in China, the site will also become a key supporting member of its global research and development network.

Hubertus von Baumbach, responsible for the firm's corporate board's finance and animal health divisions, said: "Boehringer Ingelheim's long-term focus is to further strengthen its very strong global position in the animal health business, particularly in the vaccine segment."

This comes after the company offered sponsorship for the latest European PCV2 Research Award recently, a scheme which provides funding for research into type 2 porcine circovirus.