AstraZeneca to Establish $1.5 Billion Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) Manufacturing Facility in Singapore
AstraZeneca plans to build a $1.5 billion manufacturing facility in Singapore, aimed at enhancing the global supply of its Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). ADCs represent next-generation cancer treatments that deliver potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells through a targeted antibody.
This greenfield facility, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), will be AstraZeneca’s first end-to-end ADC production site, incorporating all manufacturing steps on a commercial scale. The multi-step ADC manufacturing process includes antibody production, synthesis of the chemotherapy drug and linker, conjugation of the drug-linker to the antibody, and filling of the completed ADC substance.
Png Cheong Boon, Chairman of the EDB, welcomed AstraZeneca’s decision, noting, “This end-to-end ADC manufacturing facility will be a first for AstraZeneca and underscores Singapore’s strength in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. It will create meaningful jobs and economic opportunities while enhancing our ecosystem for precision medicines. We look forward to a successful partnership with AstraZeneca.”
Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca, highlighted the strategic importance of the new facility. “AstraZeneca’s portfolio of cancer medicines, including ADCs, has shown significant potential to replace traditional chemotherapy. Singapore’s excellence in complex manufacturing makes it an ideal location for our $1.5 billion ADC manufacturing facility.”
AstraZeneca’s in-house ADC portfolio includes six wholly owned ADCs in clinical trials and many more in preclinical development. The company is committed to sustainability and will collaborate with Singapore’s government and other partners to implement green solutions, ensuring the facility emits zero carbon from its first day of operation.
Design and construction of the facility are expected to begin by the end of 2024, with targeted operational readiness by 2029.
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
