BioNTech’s Singapore facility will create regional manufacturing capacities that will support BioNTech’s growing pipeline of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics across the Asia-Pacific region for clinical as well as commercial sales with the capability to develop the production to other drug classes including cell therapies
BioNTech, the German biotechnology company that developed Covid-19 vaccines with Pfizer on Monday announced that its Singapore affiliate BioNTech Pharmaceuticals Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. had come into a deal with Novartis Singapore Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Pte. Ltd. to acquire one of the firm’s GMP-certified manufacturing facilities. BioNTech’s acquisition of the GMP manufacturing site is a part of the biotechnology company’s aim to strengthen its footprint in Asia.
The new facility will serve as the company’s regional headquarters and will become its first mRNA manufacturing facility in Singapore and will be supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). BioNTech’s Singapore facility will create regional manufacturing capacities that will support BioNTech’s growing pipeline of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics across the Asia-Pacific region for clinical as well as commercial sales with the capability to develop the production to other drug classes including cell therapies.
The Chief Operating Officer of BioNTech Dr. Sierk Poetting states that the firm’s investment in Singapore hastens the creation of a ‘state-of-the-art mRNA’ facility in the Asia Pacific region and develop the potential to include more clinical studies along with the commercial supply of the company’s mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for the Asia Pacific region.
“We are excited to be moving a step closer to expanding our global manufacturing network to Singapore, supporting the production of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics for the Asia Pacific region”, says Dr. Sierk Poetting in an official statement further adding that the company will work closely with parties for the unproblematic transition of the site as the firm is set for the center’s launch.
The facility in the beginning stages will be equipped to produce mRNA-based ‘product candidates’ along with therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases. This could also include the firm’s Covid 19 vaccine and oncology product candidates if it is successfully developed and approved by the concerned regulatory authorities. Head and Senior Vice President, Healthcare, EDBat Ms. Goh Wan Yee stated that the company’s investment shows confidence in the manufacturing abilities of the biopharmaceutical ecosystem.
The company’s presence will improve the nation’s mRNA capabilities and assist in strengthening future pandemic preparedness, Ms. Goh Wan Yee states. The GMP manufacturing site will be a host to a fully incorporated mRNA facility that brings forward mRNA production capabilities across drug products and drug substances, having an expected annual production capacity of several hundred million doses of mRNA-based vaccines after a complete build-out.
The new plant will be a part of the firm’s associate BioNTech Pharmaceuticals Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd and will be completely incorporated into the company’s global production network. The facility is expected to create several new job openings in Singapore by the year 2024 across various sectors including operations, finance, human resources, engineering, quality, and supply chain management, with hiring starting instantly for the first positions.
About BioNTech
Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is a next-generation immunotherapy company establishing novel therapies for serious diseases like cancer. The Company utilizes a wide range of therapeutic drug platforms and computational discovery for the speedy advancement of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, targeted cancer antibodies, bispecific immune checkpoint modulators, and small molecules.
Based on its extensive proficiency in in-house manufacturing capabilities and mRNA vaccine development, BioNTech and its associates are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. The firm specializes in Biotechnology, Cell therapy, Antibody therapeutics, Small molecule immunomodulators, Tailored therapeutics, Individualized cancer medicine, Patient-specific immunotherapy, mRNA therapeutics, Immunotherapy, Oncology, CAR T, TCR, Bispecific antibodies, Rare diseases, and Infectious diseases.