Thermo Fisher Scientific has inaugurated a sterile drug facility in Singapore, in a move to enhance the ability of its customers to deliver novel medicines and vaccines in the Asia-Pacific market.

This sterile drug plant not only represents a significant milestone but also underscores Singapore’s dedication to pandemic readiness and its emergence as a prominent biomedical hub in the Asia-Pacific region, said the US-based scientific and laboratory equipment company.

In collaboration with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Thermo Fisher Scientific has established this current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) sterile drug facility to align with the government’s investments in preparing for future health crises.

Png Cheong Boon — Singapore Economic Development Board Chairman said: “Singapore’s strengths in manufacturing and connectivity to the region make us a hub for the production and supply of important pharmaceutical drugs to serve Asia’s healthcare needs.

“Thermo Fisher Scientific’s fill-finish manufacturing facility will enable end-to-end vaccine manufacturing to be carried out in Singapore. This will strengthen our vaccine supply chain resilience and enhance future pandemic preparedness for our region.”

The facility is equipped with advanced capabilities for rapid vaccine fill-finish processes and offers comprehensive pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services from start to finish.

One of the notable features of the new sterile drug manufacturing plant is its high-speed, fully automated aseptic fill-finish line, designed to handle both small and large molecules. This strategic investment in Singapore is said to complement Thermo Fisher Scientific’s existing research capabilities at the Customer Experience Center and Bioprocess Design Center, which are operational lab facilities showcasing cutting-edge bioprocessing, life science, and analytical technologies.

The Customer Experience Center boasts an extensive product portfolio, with over 250 offerings in various fields such as molecular biology, genetic analysis and sequencing, chromatography and mass spectrometry, and cell therapy. This center serves as a hub for Asia, providing customers with access to a wide range of products and solutions.

Additionally, the Bioprocess Design Center of Thermo Fisher Scientific leverages its expertise in bioprocessing and process scale-up to support scientists and engineers with customized services and educational resources, expediting process development efforts.

Michel Lagarde — Thermo Fisher Scientific executive vice president and chief operating officer said: “We are committed to serving as a reliable partner to the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

“This new site is an important extension of Thermo Fisher’s robust sterile fill-finish global network. With this expansion, we are strategically prepared, more than ever, to respond to our customers’ needs by supporting the accelerated delivery of critical vaccines and medicines to patients.”

  Michel Lagarde, Png Cheong Boon, Singapore, Singapore Economic Development Board, Thermo Fisher Scientific