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Coronavirus: BioNTech chooses Singapore as its Asia-Pacific vaccine hub

  • Drug maker behind groundbreaking Covid-19 shot is to produce ‘several hundreds of millions’ of mRNA-based vaccines from its first manufacturing facility outside Germany in the city state
  • News is a boost for the city state’s drive to build its biomedical sector, with the firm citing its ‘perfect business climate’ and talent pool as key attractions. Meanwhile, it is seen as unlikely to resort to vaccine nationalism, expert says

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People view the sunrise at Merlion Park in Singapore. Photo: Xinhua
German drug maker BioNTech, whose coronavirus vaccine with Pfizer was the first to be approved in the United States and Europe for use last year, on Monday announced a new manufacturing facility in Singapore that would produce “several hundreds of millions” of mRNA-based vaccine doses a year.
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The move will boost BioNTech’s production capacities for vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases and cancer, and ensure it has rapid-response production capability for potential pandemic threats in Southeast Asia. The news comes amid efforts by Singapore to build its biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors by luring companies with incentives.

The US-listed biotech firm is currently supplying its two-shot mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine to more than 90 countries and is expecting to increase its production to up to three billion doses by the end of the year, up from a previously expected 2.5 billion doses.
Both Singapore and Hong Kong use its Covid-19 vaccine. The one in Singapore is jointly developed with Pfizer while Hong Kong’s is distributed by China’s Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical.

BioNTech said it would set up its Singapore office and start construction of its manufacturing facility this year. The facility could be operational as early as 2023 and would create up to 80 jobs. According to its website, this will be its first manufacturing facility outside Germany and its first office outside Europe and America.

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Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the Singapore General Hospital. Photo: EPA
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the Singapore General Hospital. Photo: EPA
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