SINGAPORE – Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is set to create over 800 skilled jobs here to staff a new manufacturing facility in Tuas South.
The jobs range from those in engineering and technical services to roles involving global supply chain functions, and the new site is targeted to be operationally ready by 2029.
The new facility will manufacture antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) which are used in treatments to deliver highly potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells through targeted antibodies.
It will be AstraZeneca’s first end-to-end ADC production site globally, fully incorporating all steps of the manufacturing process at a commercial scale, the company said in a statement on Nov 7.
It had previously announced its intention to build the US$1.5 billion (S$2 billion) facility in May, but did not indicate the location of the site and the estimated number of jobs created.
At a groundbreaking ceremony for the 23.5ha site on Nov 7, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said the new site attests to AstraZeneca’s confidence in Singapore as a competitive location for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Mr Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, added: “This facility will provide a shot in the arm for Singapore’s biopharmaceutical industry with world-leading ADC technological capabilities, and build up our competitive advantage in ADC manufacturing.
“It will also benefit our broader manufacturing ecosystem, and enable Singaporeans to acquire new skills that are needed for the emerging demand.”
He also said Singapore will continue efforts to make it a more compelling location for biopharmaceutical manufacturing by investing in innovation and new technologies to raise productivity, growing the talent pool, and enable sustainable manufacturing.
Ms Jacqueline Poh, managing director of the Economic Development Board (EDB), said the greenfield investment will add significant capabilities to Singapore’s growing biopharmaceutical sector, especially in the development
