A 30,000-sq. ft cGMP facility and a separate R&D site will work alongside each other to provide end-to end product development solutions for Singapore and low- and middle-income countries

Hilleman Laboratories, a joint venture between Merck & Co and Wellcome Trust, revealed on Monday that it has established Singapore's first pilot vaccine and biologics development and manufacturing hub.

The hub, which was built with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), comprises a cGMP facility at 138 Depot Road and an R&D facility at Biopolis.

The 30,000-sq. ft cGMP facility will supply clinical trial materials for the development of vaccines and biologics up to Phase II stage and is expected to be fully operational by early 2023.

The R&D facility at Biopolis, which began operations in April 2021, focuses on early product development of vaccines and biologics, including candidate selection, design, early manufacturing process development and preclinical studies.

This set-up enables the two facilities to work in tandem to provide end-to end product development solutions for Singapore as well as low- and middle-income countries.

EDB's backing will enable Hilleman Laboratories to expand its product development pipeline and harness Singapore’s local network and talent to fast-track the development of novel solutions to tackle the high disease burden of preventable diseases in developing countries.

It will also provide Singapore with capabilities in vaccine and biologics development and manufacturing with an eye on meeting national needs during future pandemics.

Over the next five years, Hilleman Laboratories, which was established in 2009 as an equal joint venture between Merck and Wellcome Trust to develop affordable vaccines and biologics against infectious diseases, is investing almost SGD 80 million ($58 million) in operations, infrastructure and capacity building. The company also plans to hire up to 50 local scientists, engineers, and managers in Singapore.