AstraZeneca to Open a USD 1.5 Billion Cancer Drug Manufacturing Plant in Singapore

Jun 2024

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is set to open a USD 1.5 billion cancer drug manufacturing plant in Singapore, as part of its global expansion strategy.

The new factory highlights a growing trend among pharmaceutical companies to establish production facilities in local markets, ensuring a smoother supply chain and bolstering their regional presence.

This facility will be AstraZeneca’s first end-to-end antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) plant, following the establishment of a vaccine factory in Liverpool, which cost about GBP 650 million (USD 823.8 million).

ADCs, often described as “biological missiles” or “precision treatments” by cancer experts, use targeted antibodies to deliver powerful anti-cancer agents directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy cells.

The Singapore plant will handle the entire ADC production process, including chemotherapy drug and linker synthesis, antibody creation, and drug-linker-antibody conjugation, on a large-scale commercial basis.

This new facility highlights the trend of pharmaceutical companies setting up local production facilities to ensure smoother supply chains and reinforce regional influence. Construction is planned to begin by the end of 2024, with the plant expected to be operational and carbon-neutral by 2029.

AstraZeneca’s CEO noted that the company has built a portfolio of cancer medicines, including ADCs, which have shown significant potential to replace traditional chemotherapy. Singapore’s excellence in complex manufacturing makes it an ideal location for the ADC manufacturing facility.

AstraZeneca also maintains a strong presence in other key Asian markets, including China, where it recently announced a new global R&D center and an AI center. Additionally, its breast cancer therapy drug, Enhertu, is produced in Japan through a partnership with Daiichi Sankyo. The company also has a robust presence in Indonesia, having been named the “Best Place to Work” for the second consecutive year in 2024.

(Source: Euronews)

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