MSD launches new manufacturing facilities in Singapore
MSD (trade name of Merck & Co., Inc.) has opened a new secondary packaging facility in Singapore, the home of MSD’s Asia Pacific hub. The secondary packaging facility is expected to support the production of vaccines and biologics, including the company’s cancer immunotherapy products.
MSD also broke ground for a new inhaler production facility for the manufacture of new generation inhaler medicines in Singapore.
Both manufacturing facilities are key components of the company’s up to US$500 million investment over five years that started in 2020 – in addition to the US$2 billion invested since the start of MSD’s manufacturing operations in Singapore in 1997.
Other components of the US$500 million investment include incorporation of new technology to further MSD’s environmental sustainability goals, and modernisation of MSD’s information technology (IT) infrastructure in support of digitising the facilities.
The opening of the new secondary packaging facility and ground-breaking for the inhaler production facility was witnessed by Singapore’s Minister for Trade & Industry and Guest-of-Honour, Gan Kim Yong, and Robert Davis, CEO and President of MSD.
The new facilities are located within MSD’s existing 72-acre, multi-product manufacturing hub in Tuas. The secondary packaging facility will house a semi-automated, vial-packaging line to produce immunotherapy drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab), and three fully automated syringe-packaging lines to produce the company’s HPV recombinant vaccine, Gardasil.
In 2021, the site commenced the sterile filling process of the immunotherapy drug vials. Secondary packaging, cold storage, and a quality control laboratory will be a part of the expanded facility which further adds to the supply chain footprint for this product in Singapore.
Meanwhile, the new inhaler medicine facility, when ready in 2026, will manufacture next generation inhaler devices for targeted administration of medicines.
“MSD is committed to Singapore as a strategic node in our company’s global manufacturing network with a focus on producing innovative medicines to treat chronic diseases and cancer as well as vaccines that prevent infectious diseases for patients living in Singapore and throughout the Asia Pacific region and beyond,” said Fernando Otero, Associate VP, MSD Manufacturing Division, Singapore.
“The talent, research, and technology capabilities that first attracted our company to Singapore has been a key incentive for our continuing investment. We’re delighted to further invest in building technologically advanced facilities and highly skilled manufacturing here,” he added.
The multi-year investment plan is estimated to create over 100 new jobs over the next few years to support the new facility, with many positions requiring advanced manufacturing and digital skills. This would bring the company’s total employees in Singapore to more than 1,800 over the next few years.
In a closing note, David Peacock, President, Asia Pacific, MSD, said, “MSD has been in Singapore since 1993 and continues to invest significantly in Singapore to impact patients worldwide through our innovative medicines and vaccines.
“The launch of the new secondary packaging facility and ground-breaking for the new inhaler facility today highlights the value that biopharmaceutical innovation brings to Singapore, contributing to the health and wellbeing of the nation and the region. It further demonstrates our commitment to making a difference by bringing our medicines and vaccines to people as quickly as possible, while ensuring that the Asia Pacific region is well-positioned to manage future healthcare challenges.”
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