BioNTech establishes Singapore's first mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility

Singapore was the German biotech company's clear choice for its Asia Pacific regional headquarters.

German biotechnology company BioNTech will establish its first mRNA manufacturing facility in Singapore, making it its regional headquarters in the Asia Pacific region.

BioNTech has partnered with Pfizer when it comes to the development of their mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Initial construction will begin this year, subject to planning approval, and the facility could be operational as early as 2023. The project has the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board.

"With this planned mRNA production facility, we will increase our overall network capacity and expand our ability to manufacture and deliver our mRNA vaccines and therapies to people around the world," said BioNTech co-founder and CEO Ugur Sahin.

"Singapore provides an excellent business climate, growing biotechnology industry and rich talent base. We would like to thank Singapore’s Economic Development Board who has been very supportive throughout our planning process and we look forward to contributing our technology and expertise to the development of the biotechnology industry in Singapore and this region," he added.

The proposed Singapore manufacturing facility will be equipped with "cutting-edge manufacturing and digital infrastructure" to produce several novel mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases.

The site would be highly-automated and would have end-to-end mRNA production capabilities, to produce an estimated annual capacity of several hundred of millions of doses of mRNA-based vaccines, depending on the type.