Steve Lobel, VP of laboratory operations, said the expansion “demonstrates our commitment to deliver high quality specimens and laboratory results for our clients in a growing biopharmaceutical market.”
According to PPD, the laboratory, which houses identical instrumentation and capacity to its facilities in Belgium, the US and China, will provide analysis services to local biotechs and international players with operations in the country
The firm also stressed that benefits development clients stand to gain from the new lab’s integration into its global network via its Connexion database, which it said would “ensure consistent management and real-time reporting.”
Booming biotech attracts CROs
Singapore’s status as a global biopharmaceuticals development and manufacturing hub is undeniable, with Lonza’s choice of the country as the location for its new cell therapy plant being only the most recent example.
The primary reason for the current biotech strength is the decade long programme of investment in science education and manufacturing infrastructure that successive governments have undertaken.
As a result a number of international industry players, including Bayer, Schering-Plough and Takeda, have all either set up biopharma manufacturing operations in the country or are developing strong links with academia.
Additionally, Lonza, Baxter, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Novartis and Millipore are all collaborating to set up a $2m biopharmaceutical manufacturing training facility in the country
The presence of such firms has also attracted contractors of all types. In addition to PPD, which has had an office in the country for than ten years, many other major CROs including Covance, Parexel and MDS Pharma Services, have a presence.
Development group Icon also has a laboratory in Singapore, see today's news in brief for more details.