US-based AbbVie has acquired a small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing site in Tuas Biomedical Park, Singapore.
AbbVie intends to expand global operations of small molecule and biologics manufacturing.
The 120,000ft² site will help the company to increase capacity for compounds within its immunology and oncology pipelines.
AbbVie operations senior vice-president Azita Saleki-Gerhardt said: "The Singapore site will help to strengthen our global manufacturing capabilities, offering a higher degree of flexibility and scale.
"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 site is the firm’s first manufacturing facility in Asia and features a contained API facility, additional buildings and ancillary equipment.
According to AbbVie, the API facility is expected to commence operations in 2016.
The company will also build a bulk biologics manufacturing facility at the site, confirmed by an announcement in February. It is expected to be operational in 2019.
Singapore Economic Development Board biomedical sciences and consumer businesses executive director Kevin Lai said: "Singapore offers a neutral and trusted location for pharmaceutical companies to orchestrate and expand their operations across the region."
The firm’s operations in Asia include R&D functions in Tokyo, Japan and Shanghai, China, as well as commercial operations across the region.
With the latest addition, AbbVie’s manufacturing network increases to thirteen sites, located in the US, Europe, Asia and Puerto Rico. It also holds strategic partnerships with third-party manufacturers.
