Multinational biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is poised to invest more than ₱7 billion over the next three years as part of its commitment to advance scientific innovation in the Philippines’ healthcare system, including the establishment of the country’s first health innovation hub.

AstraZeneca said the investment, which will cover 2026 to 2028, will have a multi-stakeholder approach to help drive long-term growth in the healthcare sector.

The company’s local unit said a critical component of this investment roadmap is the development of a health innovation hub aimed at accelerating adoption and expanding access to new healthcare solutions.

As an initial step, AstraZeneca Philippines said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to jump-start the multi-stakeholder project.

“This bold step positions the Philippines as a future leader and emerging center of healthcare innovation in the region,” said AstraZeneca Philippines country president Lotis Ramin in a statement.

The proposed health innovation hub is envisioned to advance medical research, covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI)-driven diagnostics, early non-communicable disease (NCD) screening, and digital health technologies.

The project will initially feature an oncology innovation center modeled after AstraZeneca’s pharma hub in the United Kingdom (UK), where the company is headquartered. The center will harness AI for early cancer detection, expand patient-support systems, and promote evidence-based policy development, among others.

The hub will link the Philippines through AstraZeneca’s global A. Catalyst Network, providing the country access to more than 25 innovation hubs worldwide to share expertise and technology.

As part of the MOU, AstraZeneca Philippines will support the country’s investment promotion drive by pushing the country as a “priority investment destination,” particularly in healthcare innovation.

In turn, PEZA will help the company identify ecozone locations for its projects, facilitate regulatory processes, and connect it with support industries and potential joint venture (JV) partners.

“By integrating global medical knowledge and pioneering technologies, this collaborative effort aims to set a new benchmark for healthcare innovation and accessibility across the Philippines,” the company said.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, who chairs the PEZA board, said the partnership with AstraZeneca Philippines is a big step toward making medicines more affordable and accessible, while laying the foundation for the country to become a major hub for healthcare solutions.

“This partnership embodies our core belief: the government creates the enabling environment and the private sector provides the innovation and resources,” she said.

PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said the health innovation hub is part of his agency’s plan to establish more medical-centered economic zones or pharma zones.

“We want to attract more companies that are into development, manufacturing, and research in the medical field in order to create a value chain that will lead to the lowering of cost of medicines for Filipinos,” said Panga.

Panga said PEZA will extend guidance and assistance to AstraZeneca on regulatory requirements and investment opportunities to ensure the hub’s operational success and sustainability.

“These initiatives will not only attract millions of pesos in investments, but will also generate knowledge-sharing opportunities and, most importantly, save countless Filipino lives,” he added.

The pharmaceutical industry is among the country’s fastest-growing industries, with over 50 manufacturers and medical device firms currently operating in economic zones nationwide.