BioNTech to establish its first regional hub for Asia Pacific in Singapore

Expected to be operationally ready by 2023, the facility is expected to create 80 jobs for locals.

Germany pharmaceutical company, BioNTech, maker of the Pfizer-BioNTech which currently protects from three Covid-19 variants, is setting up its first Asia Pacific office in Singapore—creating employment opportunities for people in the Republic.

The move, announced on 10 May, is part of the company’s bid to expand its global footprint in Asia through this SEA regional headquarters.

In addition, the German company is also looking to establish an mRNA manufacturing facility here. The new facility, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), will provide regional and global supply capacity of its growing pipeline of mRNA-based product candidates, as well as a rapid response production capability to address potential pandemic threats in the region.

BioNTech hopes to set up its Singapore office and manufacturing facility by 2021, and be operationally ready by 2023. This move is expected to create 80 jobs for locals.

In a speech, Dr. Beh Swan Gin, Chairman, EDB, said: “We strongly welcome BioNTech’s plan to establish its mRNA manufacturing facility and regional headquarters in Singapore. The investment will enable Singapore to develop capabilities in an important new therapeutic modality as part of the strategy to grow our biopharmaceutical industry.”

The facility will leverage cutting-edge manufacturing and digital infrastructure; well-equipped to produce a range of novel mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases and cancer. The site will also bring advanced end-to-end mRNA production capabilities that stand to produce an estimated annual capacity of several hundred of million doses of mRNA-based vaccines.

Ugur Sahin, MD, CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech, called the development an important strategic step in building out the company’s global footprint and capabilities.

“Singapore provides,” he continued, “an excellent business climate, growing biotechnology industry and rich talent base. We look forward to contributing our technology and expertise to the development of the biotechnology industry in Singapore and this region.”

Its entry shows the country’s growing biomedical manufacturing cluster, with earlier investments coming from pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur that is worth S$638 million.

Image / BioNTech Media Materials

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