SINGAPORE: Global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca intends to build a US$1.5bil manufacturing facility in Singapore, the company says.
It aims to begin the designing and construction of the facility by the end of 2024, and targets it to be operationally ready from 2029.
The company’s new facility in Singapore will be designed for manufacturing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) to enhance the global supply of its ADC portfolio, it said in a statement.
ADCs are a form of next-generation treatment that can deliver highly potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells through a targeted antibody.
The new facility will mark AstraZeneca’s first end-to-end ADC production site, fully incorporating all steps of the manufacturing process on a commercial scale, the statement said.
It noted that manufacturing ADCs is a multi-step process that includes producing the antibodies and synthesising chemotherapy drug and linker, among other steps.
AstraZeneca’s executive vice-president of global operations and information technology Pam Cheng told The Straits Times that “many meaningful jobs” will be created at the new facility.
“In terms of the types of jobs, I think it’s fair to say they will be among the most innovative and technical, given the type of manufacturing processes for ADC,” she said.
These will include scientists and engineers, supply chain experts, digitalisation and information technology experts, and people working in procurement and infrastructure.
When asked how many people would be hired, she said: “It’s dangerous to quote a number right now just because we have yet to finish the design and finalise the scope, but it’s effectively four manufacturing plants in one.”
She said that the site will also be designed as a connected smart factory with autonomous manufacturing capabilities, leveraging digital and artificial intelligence.
“Even with that, we will need highly technical, capable staff to ensure that we operate all these complex manufacturing processes successfully,” she said.
The planned greenfield facility – meaning it will be built on land that has not been previously developed – is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
EDB chairman Png Cheong Boon said: “We welcome AstraZeneca’s decision to establish a manufacturing presence in Singapore for the first time. It will also be a first for AstraZeneca – an end-to-end manufacturing facility for novel antibody drug conjugates that enables precision therapy for cancer.”
He added: “This greenfield investment is a strong show of confidence in Singapore’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and talent, strengthens our ecosystem in supporting the development and manufacturing of precision medicines, and creates meaningful jobs and economic opportunities for Singapore.”
The biomedical industry, which comprises the biopharmaceutical and medical technology sectors, is a key contributor to Singapore’s economy, EDB said.
In 2022, the industry accounted for 2.3% of Singapore’s gross product and manufactured close to S$39bil worth of products for the global market.
Seven of the top 10 biopharmaceutical companies have best-in-class manufacturing facilities in Singapore, producing a wide range of drugs from active pharmaceutical ingredients to biologics and cell therapies, EDB noted.
The sector hires more than 9,000 workers and has seen employment growth of 70% over the past 10 years, it added.
“There will be significant manufacturing job opportunities with recent and upcoming biopharmaceutical investments, as well as ongoing company expansions,” EDB said.
AstraZeneca employs around 89,900 people and has a presence in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. The company is listed on the London, Stockholm and Nasdaq stock exchanges.
The company’s chief executive Pascal Soriot said: “AstraZeneca has built an industry-leading portfolio of cancer medicines, including antibody drug conjugates, which have shown enormous potential to replace traditional chemotherapy for patients across many settings.
“Singapore is one of the world’s most attractive countries for investment, given its reputation for excellence in complex manufacturing, and I am excited for AstraZeneca to locate our US$1.5bil ADC manufacturing facility in the country.”
Cheng said Singapore has one of the most established ecosystems around medicine development, commercialisation and manufacturing, with good infrastructure and a reputation for having a friendly operating environment. — The Straits Times/ANN