AbbVie Acquires API Facility In Singapore

AbbVie joins other major pharmaceutical companies in locating facilities in Singapore, an island country with a growing pharmaceutical presence. The company announced its plans in a press release, stating that it acquired a small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facility in Singapore's Tuas Biomedical Park. The manufacturing site is expected to be operational in 2016.

Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, SVP of Operations at AbbVie, said, "The Singapore site will help to strengthen our global manufacturing capabilities, offering a higher degree of flexibility and scale. The facility will support new technologies and the growth of our pipeline in immunology and oncology, helping us to address significant unmet medical needs for patients around the world."

API Facility Acquisition

AbbVie announced earlier in 2014 that it intended to make manufacturing investments in Asia. The company said that it was investing $320 million to establish operations in Singapore. That investment included a biologics processing plant, expected to be operational in 2019.

AbbVie’s latest announcement defines the scope of the API facility. The API facility is at least partially established with contained API suites in the 120,000 square meter site. The company is currently renovating the site, adding personnel, and working on the construction of the biologics facility at the same location.

AbbVie Asian Presence

The facility represents AbbVie’s first manufacturing site in Asia. The company currently has R&D sites in Japan and China and a commercial presence throughout the region. In Singapore, AbbVie has 120 personnel, which it expects to grow to approximately 250 to support its manufacturing efforts.

Pharmaceutical Companies in Singapore

Pharmaceutical companies in Singapore are supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), a government entity charged with supporting existing businesses and recruiting international investment. Kevin Lai, Executive Director of the EDB, said regarding AbbVie’s move, "Singapore offers a neutral and trusted location for pharmaceutical companies to orchestrate and expand their operations across the region.”

AbbVie Manufacturing

AbbVie supports its products with in-house manufacturing and also offers contract manufacturing. Its manufacturing locations include sites in Germany, Ireland, Italy, the U.S., and Puerto Rico. In June 2014, the company opened a new manufacturing site in Ireland for liver disease, oncology, and women's health products.