AstraZeneca plans $2.02b ADC manufacturing facility in Singapore

This is expected to be operational by 2029.

AstraZeneca announced plans to build a $2.02b (US$1.5b) manufacturing facility in Singapore for antibody drug conjugates (ADC), which is a targeted therapy for treating cancer.

This will be AstraZeneca’s first end-to-end ADC production site at a commercial scale. The manufacturing process involves antibody production, synthesis of chemotherapy drug and linker, conjugation of drug-linker to the antibody, and filling of the completed ADC substance.

According to the Singapore Economic Development Board, which supports the project, the country’s biomedical sciences industry is a key contributor to its economy. It accounted for 2.3% of the gross domestic product and manufactured nearly $39b worth of products for the global market in 2022, it noted. 

Countries like Singapore are also adopting aspects of precision medicine in their healthcare systems due to its potential to prevent diseases, enable early detection, and deliver more effective and targeted treatment. 

AstraZeneca said it will work with the government and other relevant institutions focusing on green solutions in building the ADC facility. This will be designed to emit zero carbon from its first day of operations, it noted.

The company hopes to start design and construction by the end of 2024, with target operation in 2029. 

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“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 $1.5 billion ADC manufacturing facility in the country,” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said. 

US$1= S$1.35