WuXi Biologics, a contract research development and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO) based in China, will construct a first-of-its-kind CRDMO centre within JTC’s Tuas Biomedical Park in Singapore.
JTC is a statutory board under Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, serving as the master planner and developer of Singapore’s industrial estates.
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The comprehensive CRDMO centre in Singapore will contribute an additional 120,000l of manufacturing capacity to WuXi Biologics’ global network. It will support the company’s global dual sourcing strategy, ensuring that client projects can be executed at multiple sites worldwide to minimise potential risks.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the facility took place in March 2024, with operational commencement expected by 2026.
The facility is expected to generate 1,500 jobs in research, development and manufacturing. It will strengthen the biopharmaceutical sector in Singapore and promote collaborative efforts between WuXi Biologics, research and development (R&D) institutions and start-ups for the development of innovative therapeutics and novel modalities.
WuXi Biologics CRDMO manufacturing facility details
The state-of-the-art facility will be built on a 13.5-hectare (33.35-acre) site in Tuas Biomedical Park to offer comprehensive biologics research, development and manufacturing services. It will be equipped with next-generation biomanufacturing technologies.
The site will feature WuXi Biologics’ proprietary technical platforms and incorporate cutting-edge technologies to deliver time-efficient and cost-effective services to clients.
In alignment with the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, the facility’s design and construction will incorporate sustainable concepts and clean-energy sources, utilise digital tools and include energy-saving features.
Contractors involved
WuXi Biologics entered a global strategic partnership with Pharmadule Morimatsu, a company specialising in the design and construction of modular production facilities and process equipment for the pharma industry, for the CRDMO centre in June 2023.
The collaboration will provide the integrated modular plant for two key production facilities at the CRDMO centre, encompassing design, manufacturing, factory acceptance testing (FAT), installation, commissioning and validation.
The project will utilise a new generation of modular fabrication, most being built, assembled and FAT-tested at Morimatsu’s workshop. The approach ensures improved management and control of quality, schedule, cost and risk, significantly shortening the project cycle compared to conventional construction methods.
Marketing commentary on WuXi Biologics
WuXi Biologics delivers end-to-end solutions that empower partners to discover, develop and manufacture biologics from concept to commercialisation, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide.
With more than 10,000 employees across China, the US, Ireland, Germany and Singapore, WuXi Biologics utilises its advanced technologies and expertise to offer efficient and cost-effective solutions for biologics discovery, development and manufacturing.
The company is supporting 698 integrated client projects, including 24 in commercial manufacturing, as of December 2023. The company is leveraging ten biologics discovery platforms, multiple R&D labs, and several of the world’s largest cGMP biologics manufacturing sites with disposable bioreactor technology to offer the expertise and capacity to meet the drug development needs of clients.
The company’s expansion plans include enhancing biologics discovery and development capabilities and increasing GMP manufacturing capacity. By 2026, WuXi Biologics aims to offer more than 580,000l of disposable bioreactor capacity and multiple drug product facilities across five countries, establishing a a global dual source manufacturing supply chain network.
Investment details
WuXi Biologics announced in July 2022 to invest S$2bn ($1.4bn) over ten years to expand R&D services and augment large-scale drug substance and drug product manufacturing capacities and capabilities in Singapore.
The Singapore Economic Development Board and local partners support the investment plan.
