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AstraZeneca has announced that it intends to build a $1.5bn manufacturing facility in Singapore, Singapore, for antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), with the aim of enhancing its global supply of its ADC portfolio.

The facility is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and will become AstraZeneca’s first end-to-end ADC production site, ‘fully incorporating all steps of the manufacturing process at a commercial scale’, according to the company’s press release.

AstraZeneca intends to work alongside Singapore’s government and other partners in order to continue its commitment to sustainability in healthcare in this facility. It is intended that the new facility will be designed to emit zero carbon from the first day of its operations.

It is hoped that the design and construction of this manufacturing facility will begin by the end of 2024, with the target for operational readiness being set at 2029.

Png Cheong Boon, chairman at EDB, stated: "We welcome AstraZeneca's decision to establish a manufacturing presence in Singapore for the first time. It will also be a first for AstraZeneca – an end-to-end manufacturing facility for novel ADCs that enables precision therapy for cancer. This greenfield investment is a strong show of confidence in Singapore's biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and talent, strengthens our ecosystem in supporting the development and manufacturing of precision medicines, and creates meaningful jobs and economic opportunities for Singapore. We look forward to a successful partnership with AstraZeneca."

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer at AstraZeneca, commented: “AstraZeneca has built an industry-leading portfolio of cancer medicines including ADCs, which have shown enormous potential to replace traditional chemotherapy for patients across many settings. Singapore is one of the world’s most attractive countries for investment given its reputation for excellence in complex manufacturing, and I am excited for AstraZeneca to locate our $1.5bn ADC manufacturing facility in the country.”