THE Philippines is setting its sights on becoming Asia’s premier clinical research and life sciences hub, driven by an expanded strategic partnership between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.
The initiative took center stage during DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque’s official visit to AstraZeneca’s global headquarters and R&D facility, the Discovery Centre (DISC) in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Joined by Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr., Secretary Roque met with AstraZeneca Philippines Country President Lotis Ramin to tour the innovation labs and discuss upcoming health sector investments.
AstraZeneca reaffirmed its nearly 50-year footprint in the country, highlighting more than ₱3 billion invested in local clinical trials over the past six years.
Currently, the company supports over 28 ongoing and planned trials involving more than 1,000 Filipino patients across 150-plus trial sites nationwide.
Building on this momentum, AstraZeneca signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in August 2025 to develop a Multi-Stakeholder Health Innovation Hub.
This initiative features an Oncology Innovation Center utilizing artificial intelligence for early lung cancer detection.
Furthermore, a partnership with De La Salle University, PEZA, and the Department of Science and Technology will establish a Clinical Trial Centre of Excellence in Manila.
This facility forms the first pillar of a broader ecosystem that will also include Cancer and Cardio-Renal-Metabolic centers.
To accelerate these projects, the DTI is collaborating with key government agencies to streamline regulatory processes and explore a one-stop-shop model.
Secretary Roque emphasized that expanding clinical research goes beyond medical advancement, aiming to generate high-value employment for Filipino doctors, nurses, and researchers.
Comparing the initiative to the rise of the country’s IT-BPM sector, Secretary Roque noted that clinical research and health information management are poised to become the nation’s next major economic growth drivers, delivering globally competitive careers and better healthcare access locally.