(Yicai) Oct. 13 -- Boehringer Ingelheim said the German pharmaceuticals giant will begin producing its flagship Trajenta diabetes drug at its Shanghai facility, targeting the start of deliveries in the Chinese market in 2028.

Local production of Trajenta, an oral drug that controls blood sugar by promoting insulin secretion, will enhance supply reliability, expand patient access, and prompt equipment upgrades and capacity expansion at the Shanghai site, the Ingelheim-based company announced today.

Global sales of Trajenta have been rising steadily, reaching EUR1.7 billion (USD1.96 billion) in 2023, according to the company.

The move coincides with Boehringer’s 30th anniversary in China, said Mohammed Tawil, president and chief executive of its local business. China has become a major market and innovation hub for the company, Tawil noted, adding that it will continue to leverage China’s speed, scale, and influence to go on localizing its development and serve global patients.

Earlier this year, Boehringer said it would invest more than CNY5 billion (USD701 million) in China over the next five years to research and develop new products. Work on human drugs will focus on the areas of metabolism, inflammation, eye health, and oncology, while the firm’s animal health care business will speed up vaccine innovation and development, it said.

Boehringer has more than 3,700 staff in China and has a major regional hub in Shanghai. It is the company’s China headquarters and hosts R&D, digital labs, and a substantial biopharmaceutical production complex. The Shanghai site deals with human pharmaceuticals, animal health care, and biopharma contract manufacturing.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Tom Litting