Health InsuranceBiomedical Sciences Companies Expanding In Asia Invested More Than US$500 Million In Singapore
Global biomedical sciences companies invested more than US$500 million in
Singapore in the year 2008. This rides on Singapore"s strong scientific
fundamentals, with biomedical sciences R&D expenditure exceeding US$760
million in 2007.
The continued confidence in Singapore points to the city-state"s
attractive investment environment, as companies look to the fast growing
Asian market to fuel their growth. As a leading bio-cluster in Asia,
Singapore provides access to global talent, world-class scientific and
clinical excellence, as well as excellent connectivity to key regional
markets.
Mr. Yeoh Keat Chuan, Executive Director, Biomedical Sciences, Singapore
Economic Development Board (EDB) said: "Singapore is aggressively positioning
itself as a home for business, innovation and talent in Asia to be
future-ready. Our efforts will enable companies based in Singapore to
innovate and create value, thereby capturing the opportunities presented by
Asia"s growth."
Expanding Base of Research Investments
A growing base of more than 50 global pharmaceutical, biotechnology and
medical technology companies are carrying out R&D in Singapore, alongside 30
public-sector research and medical institutes.
Bayer has committed US$13 million to carry out R&D in Singapore, starting
with a US$2.3 million collaboration with the National University of Singapore
(NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine to conduct translational cancer
research, which includes profiling oncology drugs in an Asian context.
Schering-Plough opened a 30,000 square-foot Translational Medicine
Research Centre (TMRC), which will support the company"s global R&D
programmes by focusing on biomarker discovery and development.
Schering-Plough"s TMRC will also be the company"s focal point for
non-invasive imaging for discovery research and early clinical development.
In addition, companies are leveraging Singapore"s central location for
the oversight and coordination of multi-centre, regional clinical trials.
Takeda announced its US$3 million regional clinical coordination centre,
while Quintiles doubled the size of its regional headquarters to an 80,000
square-foot facility, which will house its Central Laboratory and Clinical
Development Services offices.
Commercialising Homegrown Innovation
On the home front, Singapore"s biotech and research institutes
successfully concluded significant licensing agreements with international
partners.
S*BIO, for example, is entitled to receive more than US$600 million in
payment under two licensing agreements with Onyx and Tragara to develop
oncology drugs. S*BIO"s agreement with Onyx will include the development of
SB1518, a JAK2 inhibitor that received orphan drug designation from the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008.
The Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) has attracted
investment from Sumitomo Corporation Asia and will be spun-off as Micropoint
Technologies to produce plastic microneedles, for painless injections and
extraction of bodily fluids, which can be mass produced.
The Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) has also
announced licensing deals for its products:
-- Micro-Kit, an all-in-one device that allows for rapid, easy,
affordable tests for cancer, avian flu and other infectious diseases,
licensed to Dyamed Biotech
-- Virtual Reaction Chamber, affordable micro fluidics real time PCR
machine, licensed to MP Biomedicals under agreement with Exploit
Technologies
Singapore Draws High Value-Added, Complex Manufacturing
Asia"s growth is not limited to its market opportunities. In recognition
of Asia"s scientific excellence and capabilities, companies are establishing
higher value-added manufacturing activities into Singapore. This trend builds
on Singapore"s advanced manufacturing capabilities as well as its expertise
in process development and automation technologies. Coupled with the island"s
close proximity and excellent connectivity to Asian markets, the city-state
presents a choice location for complex manufacturing and the production of
innovative medicines and medical devices.
Lonza announced the decision to set up its first Asian cell-therapy
manufacturing plant in Singapore. This facility will initially manufacture
products for clinical trials as a start, and will build up Singapore"s
capabilities as one of Asia"s leading sites for cell-therapy.
In addition, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) recently embarked on a US$67 million
upgrading project to improve the capability and flexibility of its Singapore
manufacturing plant, which is one of GSK"s key global sites that manufacture
new pharmaceutical active ingredients. Coupled with its new R&D pilot plant
opened in 2008, this upgrading project will support the seamless development
and implementation of new processes from the R&D bench to full-scale
manufacturing.
Marking a new milestone in its successful 31-year partnership with
Singapore, Baxter Biosciences recently held a ground-breaking ceremony for a
biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant for biologics and recombinant therapy.
This facility is Singapore"s sixth biologics manufacturing plant and will
produce ADVATE, which is one of the world"s most chosen recombinant FVIII
therapies for hemophilia.
In response to the expanding base of biologics manufacturers in
Singapore, which include Baxter, Genentech, GSK, Lonza and Novartis,
Millipore opened a US$2 million regional biopharmaceutical manufacturing
training facility.
In the field of micro-array, Singapore is emerging as a global leader
with Illumina"s decision to set up its US$20 million global manufacturing
site in the city-state. Singapore accounts for more than half of the global
manufacturing capacity for micro-arrays, which is increasingly used in
biopharmaceutical research and diagnostics.
Yeoh said: "In 2008, Singapore"s biomedical sciences sector contributed
US$13 billion in manufacturing output. With the continued investment from
global companies such as Baxter, Illumina and GlaxoSmithKline, we are
confident of achieving our target of US$17 billion in manufacturing output by
2015."
Developing Companies" Talent-Base in Singapore
During these challenging times, Singapore has launched programmes
specifically targeted at helping global businesses based in Singapore retain
and enhance their talent base. In January this year, the Singapore Government
announced a US$14 billion resilience package that includes the Jobs Credit
scheme and Economic Development Board"s PREP-UP initiative. Under these
programmes, the Singapore Government will co-share the cost of wages and
training with companies to upgrade the skills of their technical and
engineering workforce, thus ensuring that they are fully prepared for the
eventual economic upturn.
Singapore Economic Development Board