Novartis to create $500m biotechnology facility in Singapore

Novartis has outlined its plans to develop a new state-of-the-art biotechnology production site in Singapore, which will focus on drug substance manufacturing based on cell culture technology.

To be created using an investment of $500 million (309.13 million pounds), the site's construction is set to commence in early 2013, with plans to bring it into full operation by 2016.

This comes as part of a wider plan to establish a worldwide manufacturing network of technology centres of excellence, with the facility supporting clinical and commercial production of potential new products including monoclonal antibodies.

Currently, Novartis' biologics pipeline accounts for 25 percent of its clinical pharmaceutical research pipeline, with a trend for future growth.

Joseph Jimenez, chief executive officer of Novartis, said: "This investment further strengthens our strategy to establish key strategic sites based on technological competencies."

The company is currently going through a period of transition following the expiry of key product patents, with Novartis' recent third-quarter fiscal report showing that its pharmaceutical pipeline is making progress towards recovering from this.