Forget chasing the next Pfizer: Singapore’s biotech future lies in innovation, not giants
The Republic may not have a major player to call its own, but licensing deals and early-stage breakthroughs can still count as wins
[SINGAPORE] A quarter-century after the Republic ambitiously set out to build biomedical sciences into an economic pillar, it has yet to produce a home-grown champion on the scale of Denmark’s Novo Nordisk or the United States’ Moderna.
The local ecosystem boasts a solid foundation of research institutions, and a healthy pipeline of startups spanning pre-clinical to late-stage development. Yet, it still has not come up with a blockbuster drug nor a globally recognised brand name that manages a pipeline from the laboratory to the market.
It has come close, though. In 2022, Tessa Therapeutics emerged as a rising star, securing US$126 million in Series A funding to advance clinical development of its immune cell therapies for cancer.
TRENDING NOW
He built the Vingroup empire. Now South-east Asia’s richest man is handing some key roles to his sons
Quarter of Singtel special discounted shares sold ahead of CPF Board transfer
Why Tan Aik Keong of digital solutions specialist Agmo wants to make himself less indispensable
Asia needs new energy security architecture
