Sanofi, a French multinational pharmaceutical company with its China headquarters in Shanghai, signed an agreement with SIP authority on Nov 20 to set up its fourth Global Research Center (GRC) worldwide in SIP for discovery and development of drugs against cancers, immunological diseases and metabolic disorders.

The GRC, to be located in Suzhou Institute of Systems, SIP's Dushu Lake Science & Education Innovation Zone, is scheduled to come into operation in the third quarter next year.

Sanofi has promised an annual investment of EUR 20 million in the project over the next five years as well as 30 to 50 jobs to top local professionals in GRC's early-stage operation. Besides, the company expects to expand cooperation with Chinese companies in new drug development and production.