Switzerland-based Roche is set to invest around CHF450m ($467m) to develop a new diagnostic manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China.

The investment will be made in the next three years to build the manufacturing site, which is said to meet the growing demand for diagnostic tests in China and the Asia Pacific region.

According to Roche, the new Chinese facility will concentrate on manufacturing Immunochemistry and Clinical Chemistry tests.

Roche Diagnostics COO Roland Diggelmann said: "Roche is committed to investing in China and the Asia Pacific region. The new manufacturing site will enable us to meet the growing demand for our diagnostic products, ensuring our continuous contribution to the health of people in China and the Asia Pacific region.

"We are confident that by establishing our manufacturing footprint here in Suzhou close to our China operations, we can further increase our market responsiveness and contribute to the overall competitiveness of our business."

The facility, which is expected to be fully operational by 2018, will focus on packaging operations in the first phase.

Roche noted that the manufacturing site is the eighth such facility across the globe for the company and the first in the Asia Pacific region.