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Hilleman Laboratories to hire up to 50 scientists, engineers, and managers in Singapore, as it opens manufacturing facility

Hilleman Laboratories to hire up to 50 scientists, engineers, and managers in Singapore, as it opens manufacturing facility

The organisation hopes to equip employees with the expertise to strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in the development of vaccines and biologics.

Hilleman Laboratories, an India-based joint venture between MSD and Wellcome Trust focused on developing affordable vaccines and biologics against infectious diseases, is looking to recruit up to 50 scientists, engineers, and managers in Singapore - with the aim to build the skills and expertise to strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in developing vaccines and biologics in compliance with global regulatory and quality standards.

This was announced on 22 February 2022 (Wednesday) during the official launch of Hilleman's Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) 30,000 square foot facility at Depot Road, Singapore, with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

The cGMP is, in fact, the second Hilleman facility in Singapore with the first being a research and development (R&D) facility at Biopolis. For this latest facility, its function is to supply clinical trial materials up to the Phase II stage, and it has been designed to pivot to manufacture vaccines for Singapore’s use during pandemics. While for the first facility (R&D), it focuses on early product development of vaccines and biologics, including candidate selection, design, early manufacturing process development, and preclinical studies.

Together the two facilities form a vaccine and biologics development and manufacturing hub that will provide end-to-end product development solutions from concept to cGMP, and Phase II clinical development, supporting the development of affordable, high-value vaccines and biologics for Singapore as well as low- and middle-income countries using innovative technology platforms.

The hub, which is part of Hilleman's investment of approximately SGD80mn in operations, infrastructure, and capacity building over the next five years in Singapore, is expected to be fully operational by early 2023.

Dr Raman Rao, CEO, Hilleman Laboratories, said: "We look forward to building strong partnerships with stakeholders across the vaccine development landscape with Singapore as our headquarters. We are also committed to supporting the enhancement of local capabilities in vaccines and biologics development to shore up Singapore’s defences against disease outbreaks, particularly those with pandemic potential."

Sharing his delight, Goh Wan Yee, Senior Vice President, Healthcare, EDB, added that Hilleman Laboratories’ new facility is "a welcome addition to Singapore’s healthcare ecosystem", and it is in line with the nation's efforts to strengthen capabilities across the biopharmaceutical manufacturing value chain.

"With its focus on early clinical development of vaccines and biologics for diseases that exert a heavy burden globally, the new facility will enhance Singapore’s status as a global hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, and stand us in good stead to meet national needs during future pandemics," she said.

RelatedUnilever's new Singapore campus shows global commitment to hybrid working and leadership development


Image / Hilleman Laboratories' LinkedIn

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