BioNTech acquires GMP manufacturing site in Singapore
The facility is expected to be fully operational late next year, creating more than 100 jobs and supporting BioNTech’s growing pipeline of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutic at both clinical and commercial scale.
Dr Sierk Poetting, Chief Operating Officer of BioNTech, said: “We are excited to be moving a step closer to expanding our global manufacturing network to Singapore, supporting production of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics for the Asia Pacific 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.”
BioNTech’s Singapore mRNA facility will create regional manufacturing capacities in support of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics across the Asia Pacific region, 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 authorized vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases.
This could include the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, as well as future oncology product candidates.
The site will be a fully integrated mRNA manufacturing facility bringing mRNA production capabilities across drug substance and drug product, with an expected annual production capacity of up to several hundred million doses of mRNA-based vaccines after a full built-out.
It is expected to create more than 100 jobs in Singapore by 2024 across multiple functions, including operations, engineering, quality, finance, human resources, as well as supply chain management, with recruiting starting immediately for first positions.
The plant, acquired from Novartis Singapore Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Pte. Ltd and supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board, will be part of BioNTech’s affiliate BioNTech Pharmaceuticals Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. and be fully integrated into the company’s global manufacturing network.
The Singapore Economic Development Board says BioNTech’s investment in Singapore demonstrates ‘confidence in the strong talent base and deep manufacturing capabilities’ of the biopharmaceutical ecosystem.
Sanofi is in the process of building a new $475m vaccine facility in Singapore while Merck announced earlier this year it would invest $500m to add capabilities for biologics and vaccine at its manufacturing hub. In July, WuXi Biologics announced it would build a CRDMO center in Singapore.
