Daiichi Sankyo, a Japanese global pharmaceutical company, is to construct a $152 million antibody drug conjugate manufacturing site in Shanghai, China, where it will produce the cancer drug Enhertu.

Enhertu was initially approved in China for previously treated HER2-positive breast cancer; HER2-low breast cancer, HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer and HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer has also been added to the Chinese list of Enhertu targets. In addition to HER2-targeted Enhertu, Daiichi and AstraZeneca’s second ADC program, TROP2-directed datopotamab deruxtecan, is also under regulatory review in China. According to two firms’ agreements, Daiichi is solely responsible for manufacturing both drugs. The new facility is expected to be in operation by 2030.