Zuellig Pharma Expands Clinical Trial Footprint with Hangzhou Acquisition

Zuellig Pharma, a leading healthcare solutions company in Asia, announced the strategic acquisition of a specialized clinical supply facility in Hangzhou, China, on Nov. 4, 2026. The move strengthens the company's clinical sourcing capabilities and is designed to better support both domestic and international clinical trials.

The Hangzhou facility holds a Drug Distribution License (DDL), a regulatory credential that enables Zuellig Pharma to provide local clinical sourcing of comparator drugs and concomitant medications in China. According to the company, this strengthens its ability to offer compliant, in-market sourcing solutions while streamlining billing processes and creating opportunities for value-added tax (VAT) savings for clinical trial sponsors.

Strategic Location and Cold-Chain Infrastructure

Strategically located in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta's biopharmaceutical innovation corridor, the Hangzhou facility complements and seamlessly connects to Zuellig Pharma's existing Beijing depot and its global network of over 45 clinical depots. To safeguard product integrity, the new facility is equipped with advanced cold-chain capabilities and precision-controlled environments across temperature-controlled capacities ranging from 15–25°C, 2–8°C, and -20°C.

The acquisition reflects a broader push by Zuellig Pharma to build out reliable, sustainable, and digitally enabled clinical supply infrastructure. By bringing local sourcing and distribution capabilities together, the company aims to enable life science partners to conduct both domestic studies and multi-regional clinical trials (MRCTs) with faster cycle times, uncompromised regulatory compliance, and robust cold-chain integrity.

Executive Perspectives on the China Market

"Asia is playing an increasingly important role in global clinical research and drug development, and China is a critical market within this ecosystem,“ said John Graham, Group Chief Executive Officer of Zuellig Pharma. ”This strategic acquisition reflects our continued commitment to investing in the infrastructure and capabilities needed to support the regional and global healthcare needs. By strengthening our clinical trial support network, we are helping our partners accelerate the development of innovative therapies for patients across Asia and beyond."

David Christmas, Executive Vice President of Distribution & Clinical Trial Support, emphasized the operational benefits: "Our focus remains on removing logistical hurdles to clinical development, ensuring critical supplies reach trial sites and patients safely. The addition of our licensed Hangzhou facility represents a significant step forward in strengthening our clinical trial supply capabilities in China. By bringing local sourcing, and distribution capabilities together, we are enabling our life science partners to conduct both domestic studies and multi-regional clinical trials (MRCTs) with faster cycle times, uncompromised regulatory compliance, and robust cold-chain integrity."

Partner Ecosystem and Industry Implications

Zuellig Pharma's Clinical Trial Support business serves as a trusted clinical logistics and sourcing partner to 29 of the world's top 50 pharmaceutical companies and 18 of the top 50 global Contract Research Organizations, delivering integrated end-to-end clinical supply chain solutions worldwide. The Hangzhou acquisition is positioned to deepen these relationships by offering a licensed local sourcing option in China, a market that is increasingly central to global drug development.

The ability to source comparator drugs and concomitant medications locally can reduce reliance on cross-border logistics, shorten lead times, and potentially lower costs for sponsors through VAT savings. For multinational sponsors running multi-regional clinical trials that include China, the facility offers a compliant pathway to integrate Chinese trial sites into global studies. For domestic Chinese biopharma companies, it provides access to a global clinical supply network with local sourcing capabilities.

Broader Strategic Context

The acquisition underscores Zuellig Pharma's commitment to supporting domestic and international research partners in accelerating the development of innovative therapies and improving patient access to healthcare. Zuellig Pharma is a leading healthcare solutions company in Asia with a purpose to make healthcare more accessible to the communities it serves. The company provides world-class distribution, digital, and commercial services to support the growing healthcare needs in the region. Started a hundred years ago, it has grown to become a multibillion-dollar business covering 18 markets with over 12,000 employees. Its people serve more than 200,000 medical facilities and work with over 450 clients, including the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.

The Hangzhou facility adds to Zuellig Pharma's existing clinical supply infrastructure in China and connects to a global network of more than 45 clinical depots. As clinical research in Asia continues to expand, the company's investment in licensed local sourcing and cold-chain capacity positions it to capture growing demand from both domestic and international trial sponsors.