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Also an mRNA manufacturing facility, it will see new roles across functions such as HR, operations, engineering, quality, finance, and supply chain management, with recruiting starting immediately for first positions.
Immunotherapy company BioNTech's Singapore affiliate, BioNTech Pharmaceuticals Asia Pacific, has announced the acquisition of a GMP-certified manufacturing facility in Singapore, which will serve as the company regional headquarters and become its first mRNA manufacturing facility in the country.
This comes under an agreement it has entered with Novartis Singapore Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, which owns the facility, and is part of BioNTech’s expansion strategy to strengthen its global footprint in Asia, the company said on Monday (14 November 2022).
The new facility, supported by Economic Development Board (EDB), will create regional manufacturing capacities in support of BioNTech’s growing pipeline of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics across Asia Pacific (APAC) for both commercial and clinical scale, with the potential to expand the production to other drug classes, such as cell therapies. The facility will be initially equipped to manufacture a range of mRNA-based product candidates as well as authorised vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases. This may include the company’s COVID-19 vaccine, as well as oncology product candidates if successfully developed and approved or authorised by regulatory authorities, it was shared.
Additionally, the site will be fully integrated with mRNA production capabilities across drug substance and drug products, with an expected annual production capacity of up to several hundred million doses of mRNA-based vaccines after a full build-out. It is expected to create more than 100 jobs in Singapore by 2024 across multiple functions including operations, engineering, quality, finance, HR, as well as supply chain management, with recruiting starting immediately for first positions.
Commenting on the move, Dr Sierk Poetting, Chief Operating Officer, BioNTech, said: "We are excited to be moving a step closer to expanding our global manufacturing network to Singapore, supporting the production of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics for the APAC region. The acquisition gives us the opportunity to accelerate the establishment of a state-of-the-art mRNA manufacturing facility and thus to create capacity more quickly for potential clinical studies and commercial supply of our mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for the region.
"In the coming months, we will work closely with all parties on the smooth transition of the site as we continue to prepare for the launch."
Adding her views, Goh Wan Yee, Senior Vice President and Head, Healthcare, EDB, shared: "We are delighted that BioNTech has chosen Singapore as the location for its new regional headquarters and first mRNA manufacturing facility in the APAC region. The company’s investment demonstrates confidence in the strong talent base and deep manufacturing capabilities of our biopharmaceutical ecosystem. BioNTech’s presence will enhance Singapore’s mRNA capabilities and enable us to strengthen future pandemic preparedness across the region."
BioNTech's intention for an APAC hub in Singapore was first announced in May 2021, where it was first expected to create about 80 jobs for locals.
Image / BioNTech
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