AbbVie Opens Its First Manufacturing Facility in Asia

Global biopharmaceutical company AbbVie opened its 120,000-sq m small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredient facility in Singapore, the company’s first manufacturing facility in Asia, the company announced Wednesday.

The facility’s debut represents the completion of the first phase of AbbVie’s $320 million investment in manufacturing at its Singapore site. The company plans to open a biologics manufacturing facility there by the end of 2018. Together, the facilities will support AbbVie’s expansion of oncology and women’s health pipelines in Asia.

“Our goal as AbbVie is to assure patients around the world have access to new and innovative medicines when they need them and where they need them,” said Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, Ph.D., senior vice president of operations at AbbVie, in a press release. “Today, with the opening of the first phase of our Singapore facility, we will further strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and continue to enhance our support of AbbVie’s pipeline in the therapeutic areas of oncology and women’s health for patients around the world.”

With the opening of the Singapore facility, AbbVie’s manufacturing network includes 13 sites throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Puerto Rico. The company also maintains partnerships with third-party manufacturers.

“Singapore is recognized as a leader in the biopharmaceutical industry and AbbVie is excited to open its facility and begin operations. Singapore has a robust infrastructure, a highly educated and skilled workforce and provides a supportive environment for manufacturing,” said site director Marc O’Donoghue at the opening ceremony. “Our presence in Singapore establishes AbbVie’s footprint in Asia and provides a geographic balance in AbbVie’s manufacturing network to ensure continuity of supply.”

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