AbbVie Breaks Ground on $223 Million Expansion in Singapore

Pharmaceutical company AbbVie has initiated a significant expansion of its Singapore manufacturing facility, investing US$223 million (S$301 million) in the project. 

The company announced this expansion during a groundbreaking ceremony on January 25. Subsequently, it will bolster the company’s biologics manufacturing capacity and create over 100 new jobs.

Enhancing Global Manufacturing Capabilities

The facility will be located at the Tuas Biomedical Park. It marks a notable increase in AbbVie’s manufacturing footprint. The state-of-the-art plant, already operational for small-molecule and biologics production, will gain an additional 24,000 litres of biologics drug-substance capacity. This expansion supports the production of current products and emerging compounds in immunology and oncology from AbbVie’s research pipeline. It will be Abbvie’s only manufacturing site in Asia. 

Commitment to Singapore and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing

Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, PhD, AbbVie Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, emphasised the expansion as a testament to AbbVie’s decade-long partnership with the Singapore Government. “This expansion announcement represents one of AbbVie’s many investments in its Singapore-based operations and the proud continuation of our decade-long partnership with the Government of Singapore,”  said Saleki-Gerhardt.

Over the past ten years, AbbVie has invested over US$740 million (S$1 billion) in acquiring, modernising, and expanding its Singapore facility. Upon completion of the expansion, the site will employ over 500 individuals across various functions. These roles will range from manufacturing, quality assurance, supply chain, and engineering to administration. The plant will be operational in 2026.

Singapore’s Role in Advanced Manufacturing

Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President of the Singapore Economic Development Board, welcomed the decision to enhance biologics capacity in Singapore. “We are delighted that AbbVie has chosen to expand its biologics capacity in Singapore for current and future innovative medicines. We are grateful for AbbVie’s continued trust in the strength of Singapore’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and talent base. AbbVie’s investment will enhance Singapore’s leading advanced manufacturing ecosystem and create exciting job opportunities here,” Koh said.

AbbVie’s Global Operations

The Singapore manufacturing plant is a crucial part of the Operations team. The team includes over 14,000 employees working across more than 30 manufacturing, operations, and logistics sites globally. This expansion further cements AbbVie’s presence in Asia and its commitment to innovation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Conclusion

This investment in expanding the Singapore facility underscores the company’s dedication to enhancing its global manufacturing capabilities and supporting the development of innovative medicines. This move not only strengthens Singapore’s position as a hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing but also promises to bring new job opportunities and economic growth to the region. As construction commences later this year, the anticipation for the facility’s operational commencement in 2026 marks a significant milestone in AbbVie’s ongoing global expansion.