GenScript opens new US$15m Singapore manufacturing facility, to create close to 100 jobs

GENSCRIPT Biotech announced the opening of its new US$15 million Singapore manufacturing facility at a virtual ceremony on Thursday (Feb 10).

With the opening of the facility, the biotechnology company expects to create close to 100 jobs in the research and development (R&D) production and supply chain fields. Potential career opportunities include scientists, lab technicians, logistics specialists, and other commercial and laboratory positions.

While it is GenScript's first manufacturing facility in the city-state, the company is no stranger to Singapore, according to guest speaker Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan.

"During the Covid-19 pandemic, GenScript partnered Duke-NUS (Duke University and the National University of Singapore) and A*Star's Diagnostics Development Hub to develop and manufacture cPass, the world's first Covid-19 neutralising antibody test kit with regulatory approval," he said. "cPass has since been deployed in 64 countries including the US, UK and Germany."

Supported by Singapore's Economic Development Board, the facility will also serve as GenScript's Asia Pacific headquarters, supporting other business units in the areas of cell and gene therapy and vaccine development in the Asia Pacific region, while complementing the current production sites in the United States and China.

Situated at Solaris @ Kallang, the 30,000 square feet facility had cost US$15 million to build, inclusive of the site's instrumentation.

BT in your inbox

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign Up

Sign Up

This expansion allows GenScript to provide a fast turnaround on products required for new vaccines, and therapeutics development and innovations in life sciences, saving time from shipping since products will be manufactured in house, said Ray Chen, president of GenScript's life science group.

At the ceremony, GenScript also signed a memorandum of understanding with A*Star's Diagnostics Development Hub to explore collaborations such as developing talents for the biotech sector and manufacturing diagnostic kits used in disease detection.

This collaboration was critical for Singapore as it would enable the country to strengthen its supply chain in the diagnostics and life sciences ecosystem, said Tan.

"If we get this right, we will be closer to achieving our Manufacturing 2030 vision to be a global business, innovation and talent hub for advanced manufacturing," he said.