Genentech will significantly increase its presence in Singapore by building a biologics manufacturing facility in the island nation for the production of its wet age-related macular degeneration treatment Lucentis (ranibizumab).

Construction of the $140 million plant, slated to begin in the second quarter, would be ready for licensing in 2010. Singapore's Economic Development Board said March 28 the facility will be the first microbial-based biologics facility in the country.

Genentech is a relative newcomer to Singapore. In November, the biotech announced an agreement with Lonza under which the Swiss pharmaceutical supplier will produce oncologics, including Avastin (bevacizumab), at its own facility under construction in Singapore, also expected to be ready for licensing in 2010. Genentech also has an option to purchase the facility through 2012 for $290 million.

[Yeoh Keat Chuan, the EDB's Biomedical Sciences Group director, recently ¹ Also see "Singapore Biomedical Sciences Group Director Yeoh Keat Chuan: An Interview With “The Pink Sheet” DAILY (Part 1 of 2)" - Pink Sheet, 24 January, 2007. Singapore's biotech initiatives with "The Pink Sheet" DAILY.]

Genentech-operated manufacturing facilities are currently located in California in South San Francisco and Vacaville. A third plant in Oceanside is awaiting FDA approval, which is expected in the first half of 2007. Another facility in Porrino, Spain, was acquired by Lonza as part of the November 2006 deal, though the facility still produces Avastin for Genentech.

Sales of Lucentis have been strong since the biologic was approved by FDA in late June 2006. For the year, sales reached $380 million, though Genentech cautioned in January that sales would likely slow in 2007 (² Also see "Lucentis Wet AMD Growth May Cool In 2007, Genentech Says" - Pink Sheet, 11 January, 2007.).

Separately, Lilly announced March 26 that it would expand its Singapore drug discovery efforts by pumping an additional $150 million over five years into its Lilly Singapore Centre for Drug Discovery. The center is focused on oncology and metabolic disorders, including diabetes, though research on biomarkers and stem cells is also conducted.

Lilly told "The Pink Sheet" DAILY that it is aiming for two drug candidates to emerge from the center in five years.

Lilly's presence in Singapore began in 1996 with the formation of the Lilly-National University of Singapore Center for Clinical Pharmacology. The Lilly Center for System Biology, now the LSCDD, began in 2002.

Due to favorable government policies and incentives, Singapore has fast become a center of research and manufacturing for many multinational pharmas and biotechs. In 2006, manufacturing output of the pharmaceutical sector there grew to S$20.93 billion (US$13.78 billion), a 34.5 percent increase over 2005.

- Jonathan M. Block (j.block@elsevier.com)

[Editor's note: Additional coverage of Asia is provided at ³ Pharm Asia News, F-D-C Reports' new free site for Asian biotech and pharmaceutical news.]

Genentech Boosts Singapore Presence With $140 Million Biologics Plant

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