Sanofi SA will invest around 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to build a new insulin production base in Beijing, its biggest single investment in China to date and part of a broader push to boost manufacturing capacity in Asia.

The French drugmaker said that the investment of about 1 billion euros will enhance the production and manufacturing of insulin, focusing on serving local diabetic patients.

Sanofi just made its largest investment thus far in China. The company has committed just over $1 billion to build a new insulin manufacturing facility in Beijing, reflecting increasing demand for diabetes treatments in the country.

Shortly after a similarly sized venture from Pfizer, French pharma juggernaut Sanofi has unveiled a major manufacturing outlay in China, marking its biggest investment in the country to date. | Sanofi is laying out roughly 1 billion euros ($1.