Hilleman Laboratories is opening a vaccine and biologics development hub in Singapore to aid the company’s journey to develop affordable vaccines against infectious diseases.
A 30,000-square-foot site will go up at 138 Depot Road in Biopolis at a brand new R&D center at the Biopolis industrial park. The project will cost around $58 million with a two-year buildout expected.
The manufacturing site will supply clinical trial materials for up to Phase II development, and the R&D facility will be working on candidate selection, design, the manufacturing process development, and preclinical studies. The two locations will work together to provide concept-to-Phase II services.
Singapore’s Economic Development Board will help Hilleman expand its pipeline and use the country’s local talent to fast-track development. The company will offer Singapore an in-country manufacturing option, so the country can rely less on imports in the case of a future pandemic.
The country has done well vaccinating its population, with 83.4% of its people being fully vaccinated, as of the start of December, and 10% receiving booster shots. It staved off the massive spike in cases until October 2021, when it started to report as many as 3,700 new cases a day.
EDB’s support will further strengthen our position as an end-to-end development organization while lending our expertise in vaccines and biologics to build local capabilities to address urgent public health challenges caused by vaccine-preventable diseases, some of which have pandemic potential,” Hilleman CEO Raman Rao said.
Up to 50 jobs will be created, including scientists, engineers and managers. Hilleman and the EDB will offer career training and development opportunities.
Hilleman Labs was started in 2009 as a joint venture between Wellcome Trust, a health charitable organization, and Merck Sharp & Dohme.
“Hilleman Laboratories’ activities in Singapore are a step towards building domestic capabilities in vaccines development and pilot manufacturing and will enhance our growing position as a vaccines hub of Asia. We look forward to Hilleman Laboratories embarking on this journey to address the pressing challenges of infectious diseases and creating a positive impact on human healthcare in the region,” said Goh Wan Yee, the SVP of the EDB.