Merck Life Science, a leading global pharmaceutical firm, has recently opened a new lab in Shanghai's Zhangjiang Science City, focusing on viral clearance testing during medicine development. It will shorten the drug approval process and allow companies to conduct viral clearance studies in China from pre-clinical development to full commercialization. Biopharmaceutical sector is one of Shanghai's pillar industries. Aside from Merck, other global pharma giants, such as AstraZeneca, are also expanding their presence in the city.