MiRXES opens S$8m in-vitro diagnostic manufacturing facility
Benjamin Cher
BIOTECH startup MiRXES opened an S$8 million in-vitro diagnostic manufacturing facility, the largest in South-east Asia, spanning 15,000 square feet and located at JTC MedTech Hub in Singapore.
MiRXES initially developed cancer early detection tests, before pivoting to create Singapore’s first RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test in February 2020.
The facility will produce RNA early detection tests for cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and will utilise Industry 4.0 (i4.0) solutions such as real-time data and algorithms to predict supply chain disruptions and enable efficient commercialisation of biotech research into products.
The manufacturing facility has the capability to increase up to 5 in-parallel production lines to triple capacity and output within a product line, as well as support functions such as prototyping, validation and manufacturing of novel in-vitro diagnostic tests.
The facility will employ up to 50 people on-site by 2023, and can raise annual maximum production of a single infectious disease PCR test from 50 million to 200 million tests. Single high complexity, cancer early detection test annual maximum production can be raised from 300,000 to 3 million tests
“Particularly, this facility which is the first and largest i4.0 In-Vitro Diagnostic Manufacturing Facility in South-east Asia, will be led by the principles of automation, digitalisation and ‘any mix any volume,’” said Dr Zhou Lihan, co-founder and chief executive, MiRXES.
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The startup also signed a memorandum of understanding with A*STAR’s Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC). The 2 parties will scope research and development activities in automation, digitalisation, disruption analysis and prevention, and sustainability to develop innovative solutions for in-vitro diagnostics and research use.
“We look forward to co-developing i4.0 innovations with MiRXES, to facilitate manufacturing at scale,” said Dr David Low, chief executive of ARTC.
MiRXES has also been exploring opportunities with government agency EnterpriseSG since 2020, looking at markets like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
“We are glad to see MiRXES investing and leveraging its i4.0-enabled manufacturing capabilities to seize growth opportunities. We believe this will help to set the bar for the rest of the industry and contribute to the Manufacturing 2030 ambitions to grow a strong core of Singapore Global Manufacturers that offer innovative and distinctive solutions for the global markets, as well as create good jobs for Singaporeans,” said Peter Ong, chairman, EnterpriseSG.
MiRXES had been linked to a possible listing via a US$1.2 billion business combination with a special purpose acquisition company in September 2021. When asked about a possible listing, Zhou noted that the capital markets are currently volatile.
“To a biotech company, raising funds privately or from the public markets are viable channels. We’ll explore both and we’re talking to various investors, we’ll watch the market movement and decide what’s best for Mirxes,” said Zhou.
The biotech startup is only 8 years old, younger than the typical 10 to 15 year mark where biotech firms would seek for a listing accroding to Z.hou.
“We still have time, we’ll assess what’s best for Mirxes in the next 2 to 3 years,” he said.
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