AbbVie Acquires API Manufacturing Facility In Singapore

AbbVie acquired a small-molecule API manufacturing site in Singapore's Tuas Biomedical Park, the company announced on Nov. 20, 2014. As announced in February 2014, AbbVie will also construct a bulk biologics manufacturing facility on the property. The facility will expand the company's global operations for small molecule and biologics manufacturing, providing increased capacity for compounds within AbbVie's immunology and oncology pipelines.

"The Singapore site will help to strengthen our global manufacturing capabilities, offering a higher degree of flexibility and scale," said Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, senior vice-president, Operations at AbbVie, in a press release. "The facility will support new technologies and the growth of our pipeline in immunology and oncology, helping us to address significant unmet medical needs for patients around the world."

The Singapore site, AbbVie's first manufacturing facility in Asia, is approximately 120,000 m² and includes a contained API facility, additional buildings, and ancillary equipment. The API facility is expected to be fully operational by 2016.
The biologics facility being constructed by AbbVie is expected to be operational in 2019. The combined facilities will increase AbbVie's headcount by more than 250 new employees. Renovation of the small molecule facility and hiring for multiple positions are currently in process.

"Singapore offers a neutral and trusted location for pharmaceutical companies to orchestrate and expand their operations across the region," said Kevin Lai, executive director of Biomedical Sciences and Consumer Businesses of the Singapore Economic Development Board, in a press release. "We continue to see strong growth in biopharmaceutical manufacturing as companies, such as AbbVie, choose Singapore to launch and manufacture their high value-added products for the region and beyond."

AbbVie's current operations in Asia include R&D functions in Tokyo, Japan, and Shanghai, China, as well as commercial operations throughout the region. AbbVie's existing presence in Singapore has grown to include 160 personnel, supporting commercial operations, global R&D, and general operations. AbbVie expanded to new commercial premises in Singapore in July and is steadily increasing its presence in Singapore as a regional hub.

Source: AbbVie