Bio-Pharma Industry in Singapore

Project Title

Bio-pharma Industry in Singapore

Student Name: Mrinal Sharma

Student ID: 62233

School: DBME

Matriculation Year: 2006

Date of report: 01 October 2007

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 Bio-Pharma Industry in Singapore

Synopsis

In one of the leading newspaper in NEW YORK in August 2007 an analysis was
published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (Pwc), that Asia-Pacific is taking the lead
in the race to win the largest share of the global pharmaceutical industry. It was
also stated that the centre of gravity for the industry is shifting from the United
States and Europe to Asia-Pacific. In addition to becoming the largest market in
the world for drugs, led by the growth in China, India and Singapore, Asia-
Pacific is seeing an influx of multinational companies and its own pharmaceutical
companies are showing their increased appetite by acquiring international market
share”.

The basic objective of this report particularly on Bio-Pharma industry in

Singapore is to highlight the facts that how a small island country like Singapore,
without having any natural resources, able to create a strong base to lure major
players in biopharma industry around the globe, which never thought of setting
their R&D and manufacturing set-ups in Singapore.

This report shall also highlight the efforts & strategies used by Singapore
Government and its major investment & education institutions in developing this
industry in Singapore by developing basic infrastructure requirements for this
sector and developing skilled work force, through specialized training in this field,
to make it a major hub for Biotech R&D plus related industries and Pharma
community.

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 Bio-Pharma Industry in Singapore

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Why Life Science
Target
Initiative & Planning
Basic Infrastructure
Response to Singapore’s Efforts
The Industry growth and Achievements
Capabilities Development
Future
Bibliography

Introduction

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 Bio-Pharma Industry in Singapore

Singapore has enjoyed an impressive growth over last four decades despite its
small size and population- just 4.5 million people – and lack of natural resources.
It per capita domestic product (GDP) has been growing at an average annual
rate in two digits and now trails behind only Japan and Hong Kong for highest
per capita income in Asia.

Despite its historical importance during its days as a British crown Colony as a
strategically located trading port, linking West with the East, Singapore's
miraculous economic growth has been achieved by focusing on manufacturing
and productivity. It built shipyards, attracted global oil refineries to built on
reclaimed land, and later followed the technology wave on to manufacturing and
now designs of disk drives and semiconductors. Today manufacturing and
services are the twin economic engines of growth, with the chemicals, electronic
and the engineering clusters as the key pillars of Singapore Economy.

Why Life Science ?

The pharmaceutical industry in Singapore has about 30+ year history – the first
player actually arriving on the island as far back as 1973, when SmithKline
started the ball rolling with its antibiotic plant. Glaxo then started its operation in
1979, by building its first active ingredient plant.

To diversify and strengthen the Singapore's economic resilience, the government

has been aggressively developing the Biomedical Science cluster as fourth pillar
of the country's manufacturing sectors, along side electronics, chemicals and
engineering.

Life science is a high value added and knowledge intensive industry, which will
create challenging carriers in research, academia and industry. It will also seed a
new generation of start-ups in the life sciences that can add Singapore's
development into knowledge-based economy.

Target

Target for Biomedical Science industry set (Pharma, Bio-Pharma, Bio-medical

electronics and Research based) to S$25billion in manufacturing output and an
employment of 15,000 by year 2015

Initiative & Planning

In April 2000, Singapore government economic development board launched a

Life sciences manpower development plan, which was to amount about S$60
million for next five years. There were four categories under this development
programme. They are worth to mention here -

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 Bio-Pharma Industry in Singapore

Post graduate scholarship – to support post graduate training in key life science
disciplines in top Universities of the world

MBBS-Ph.D. Scholarship – to expand the pool of high quality clinician- scientists,

who are trained in clinical medicine as well as basic biomedical research.

Fellowship Program – to support Ph.D. or post doctoral students, who are

currently studying overseas and have the intention to finally work in Singapore
upon completion of their Programmes.

Exchange Programme- to provide opportunities for researchers in local research

institutes and hospitals to gain exposure and experience at top overseas
institutions or industry.

In April 2001, the Health science Authority (HSA) was established as a statutory
board of Ministry of Health. HSA comprises eight professional centers, including
the Centre for Pharmaceutical Administration (CPA), which administers the
regulation of drugs and health-related products. The other professional centers
are –
1. Centre for analytical science (CAS)
2. Centre for drug evaluation (CDE)
3. Centre for Forensic Medicine (CFM)
4. Centre for Forensic Science (CFS)
5. Centre for Medical Device Regulation (CMDR)
6. Centre for Radiation Protection (CRP)
7. Centre for Transfusion Medicine (CTM)

CPA has four divisions – The Manufacturing and Quality Audit, The product
Evaluation and Registration, The Compliance and Complementary Medicine, and
The Pharmacovigilance, Communications & Research Division.

In line with national goal of Singapore to be a life science hub, and to set a bench
mark in GMP audit and licensing of pharmaceutical manufacturers, the
Manufacturing and Quality Audit Division became the first Asian country to
accede to PIC / S, which comprise countries with equivalent high standards of
GMP inspection system, and include the European Union countries, Switzerland,
Australia, and Canada.

Since 2000 this initiative is jointly driven by the Biomedical Sciences Group
(BMSG) of Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Biomedical
Research Council (BMRC) of the Agency of Science , Technology and research
(A*STAR). EDB is the government body responsible for industrial development,
while A*STAR funds, coordinates and direct public research, as well as promotes
public awareness of Science and technology in Singapore.

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Basic Infrastructure

1. Tuas Biomedical Park (TBP)

It is the manufacturing Hub for Majority of the biopharma industry's

manufacturing plants. It is located at the western end of the island Called Tuas,
which is the industrial hub of Singapore, at a specially designated area called the
Tuas Biomedical Park. The 370 hectors of land provides companies, excellent
infrastructures of roads, power, water, telecommunication, gas, drainage system
with a provision of waste treatment and utility plant for pharmaceutical facilities
there.
Leading global biomedical sciences companies at TBP include Abbott, Ciba
Vision, Genentech, GSK Biologicals, Lonza, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis,
Pfizer, Wyeth Nutritionals and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

2. Singapore Science Park-2&3:

Many Initial projects related to biomedical science prior to Biopolis were located
in Singapore Science Park- 2 & 3. Ascendas provided all necessary space with
ready to move-in facilities to the local and overseas research based companies.
Under national university of Singapore, a Bioprocess Technology Centre was
established to train Singapore academia for biotech process development and
research and production environment.. Institute of microelectronics is also
playing a major role in Microelectronics and providing key and striking
opportunities for advancing bio-medical research and creating new markets.
A-Bio pharma , Maccine Pte Ltd (Singapore), Eli lilly, S-Bio are leading
players in Science Park working in biomedical research and manufacturing.

3. R&D City: Biopolis

Singapore has built a dedicated biomedical research park, known as "Biopolis'"

to house BMRC's five biomedical research institutions as well as R&D
laboratories of Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The 2 million
square foot R&D complex incorporate facilities for biomedical Sciences, including
laboratory space for private biomedical companies, incubators to nurture start-up
companies, animal handling facilities, as well as laboratory support services.
Central facilities such as shared R&D facilities, auditorium and life style amenities
are easily accessible and available to tenants at Biopolis.

Response to Singapore’s Efforts

2001

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Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) opened its manufacturing facility for API, which
bring the total investment in Singapore over S$900 million.
GlaxoSmithKline commenced construction of a new S$80 million manufacturing
facility.
Eli Lilly (US) announced the set up its first systems biology R&D centre outside
of the US.
Novartis (Switzerland) announced the establishment of its tropical diseases
research centre in Singapore in November 2001with projected to spend 220
million in research.
Schering-Plough (US) started construction of its S$225 million lyophilisation
plant in Singapore.
BD (US) announced to invest approximately S$25 million in fixed assets to
expand its manufacturing facility in Singapore.
Baxter, a leading medical technology company, announced to invest
approximately S$120 million in fixed assets to increase its production capacity.

Other research based companies were- Tyco Healthcare (US), Agenica

Research Pte Ltd (Singapore), Biotech Research Ventures (Singapore), Qugen
Therapeutics Pte Ltd (Singapore), S*BIO Pte Ltd (Singapore), SurroMed, Inc.
(US), Quintiles East Asia Pte Ltd (US), Gleneagles Clinical Research Centre Pte
Ltd (Singapore).

2002

Singapore's capabilities grew significantly with the establishment of landmark

private sector by global pharmaceutical leaders in the BMS industry such as Lilly
and Novartis.
Local biotechnology firms like MerLion achieved several key milestones by
establishing collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies.
The growing base of biotechnology firms in Singapore was further reinforced with
the presence of ES Cell and ViaCell .
Manufacturing activities expanded from primary manufacturing to include
secondary manufacturing such as tableting, formulation and finishing at Merck
and Pfizer, and nutritionals manufacturing at Wyeth.

High value-added manufacturing activities such as biotechnology lyophilisation at

Schering-Plough and manufacturing of a new generation of hearing aids at
Siemens Medical Instruments achieved a good progress.

2003

CIBA Vision (US) announced its decision to establish a contact lens plant.
Applied Biosystems (US) decided to expand its operations in Singapore.

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EDB BMSG and SPRING Singapore developed the Technical Reference (TR)
for Medical Device Components, which is based on the US FDA Quality System
Regulation.
Welch Allyn (US) started its first research centre in this region to develop a
range of new medical diagnostics equipment.
Cardinal Health (US) announced to establish its global headquarters in
Singapore.
Local companies such as cordlife acquired US-based Cytomatrix LCC.

2004

Novartis Pharma AG (Swiss) announced to build a green field productionfaclity

in Singapore.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) completed an expansion to its existing manufacturing
facility in Singapore.
Pfizer (US) opened its multi-purpose manufacturing facility, making Singapore
home to its large-scale API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) manufacturing
plant in Asia, Singapore.
Ciba Vision(US) started construction of its global contact lens manufacturing
facility.
MDS Sciex (US) announced that it would setup a facility to produce its industry
leading mass spectrometers.
Forefront Medical technology (Singapore) announced to expand its plant to
contract manufacture medical devices used for anesthesia.

2005
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announces to buildstate of the art R&D facility in
Singapore.
Fludigm Corporation (US) opens Singapore’s first Biochip Fab.
Lonza announces to two build most advanced commercial manufacturing
facilities for biopharmaceuticals in Singapore.
MDS pharma Service opens expanded lab facility in Singapore.
Novartis starts building its facility.

2006
Ascendas celebrated the completion of Biopolis Phase II , Comprising two
blocks, named Neuros and Immunos, the Phase II complex releases 37,000
square metres of high quality space to meet the demand for biomedical research
and development (R&D) space.
Lonza starts to build two commercial scale Biologics based facilities in Singapore
GSK ‘s biologics manufacturing plant construction commenced .

2007

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Genentech and Novartis announced to build their new biopharmaceutical

manufacturing facilities in Tuas Medical Park.

The Industry growth and Achievements

Sectors Manufacturing output (S$ Millions) No. of Employment

2001
200 200 200 200
(Proje 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2005 2006
1 2 3 4
cted)

BMS Total 6600 9763 11848 15829 17669 23002 570 734 864 922 1017 10571
0 3 2 5 1

Pharmaceuticals 5000 8055 10120 13959 15566 20934 190 320 358 385 3903 4020
0 3 4 1

Medical 1600 1708 1764 1870 2103 2069 380 414 505 537 6268 6551
technology 0 0 8 4

Capabilities Development

Singapore is the only country in Asia, developing capabilities across the entire
value chain of biologics in a targeted manner, from research, pilot-scale
production, commercial-scale contract manufacturing, commercial-scale
manufacturing to fill and finish.

To support bioprocess development, the Bioprocessing Technology Institute has

built up research capabilities in mammalian cell culture technology and
expression engineering. Homegrown biologics contract manufacturer A-Bio
Pharma provides clinical-scale biologics manufacturing services to global
pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. A-Bio Pharma has secured
contracts from GSK and Novo Nordisk and Artisan phama. Lonza's two
commercial-scale facilities offer a solution to companies looking to outsource
their biologics manufacturing needs. Genentech and GSK own their respective
commercial-scale biologics manufacturing facilities and Schering-Plough
undertakes fill and finish in Singapore.

Singapore has also invested considerable resources over the past five years in
academic and industry courses to create a pool of skilled work force in biologics.
About 3,500 university graduates and 3,000 technicians are trained in life
sciences every year.

Future

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Global market network and strong intellectual property rights protection have led
companies like Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Merck Sharp & Dohme,
Schering-Plough, Phizer, Wyeth, Novrtis, Lonza, Genentech to invest Millions of
US$ in manufacturing facilities here, to produce Active Pharmaceutical
ingredients(API), finished products and biotechnology based drugs for global
markets. With a steady pipeline of manufacturing investments by leading
pharmaceutical player, Singapore is rapidly growing as a key manufacturing
launch pad for global pharmaceutical market.

The impressive progress of the Bio-pharmaceutical industry in Singapore may

look like an overnight success, but in reality Singapore has applied considerable
effort in developing the right infrastructure and capabilities for this industry to
flourish. These include creating environments for R&D and manufacturing
activities, providing financial incentives and grants for R&D and manpower
training to help companies start immediately their operations.

Bibliography

1. Weekly Drug research news letters

2. In-pharma magazines
3. Bio-pharma magazines
4. Pharmaceutical engineering (ISPE)
5. Straits times

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