Hilleman Laboratories invests $80m in vaccine development hub

The new facility is the first of its kind in Singapore.

Hilleman Laboratories established a new vaccine development and manufacturing hub on 6 December. The project is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

The hub will comprise a 30,000-square-foot current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) facility at 138 Depot Road and a state-of-the-art research and development facility at Biopolis, which began operations in April 2021.

The company will invest close to $80m (US$58m) in operations, infrastructure, and capacity building over the next five years.

"Singapore is an important base for Hilleman Laboratories to expand in the region and beyond as we ramp up efforts to develop timely, novel, and affordable vaccines and biologics for infectious diseases, which exert a heavy burden on low- and middle-income countries. EDB's support strengthens our position as an end-to-end development organisation whilst lending our expertise in vaccines and biologics to build local capabilities to address urgent public health challenges caused by vaccine-preventable diseases, some of which have pandemic potential,” said CEO Raman Rao.

Hilleman Laboratories plans to leverage the local ecosystem in hiring up to 50 scientists, engineers, and managers in Singapore, offering training and career development opportunities and equipping them with the skills and expertise necessary to strengthen the country's capabilities in the development of vaccines and biologics, in compliance with global regulatory and quality standards.