Baxter opens its first biologics facility in Asia

Baxter International has formally opened its first advanced recombinant biologic facility in Singapore, and also plans to build a new recombinant protein processing suite on the site.

The establishment of the facility and the second processing suite is expected to create 450 jobs in Singapore by 2015.

The current suite supports the processing of Advate, a haemophilia A treatment for children and adults, while the second will initially process Rixubis for the treatment of haemophilia B in adults and, when operational, will be the company's primary global commercial processing facility. It will also support production of BAX 855, an investigational extended half-life recombinant FVIII treatment after it has received approval from the regulators.

Baxter says the facility strengthens its leadership in haemophilia and underscores its commitment to increasing access to drugs and improving haemophilia standards of care globally.

'As a long-standing, established leader in the global hemophilia community, Baxter has focused efforts on improving standards of care for people with haemophilia,' said Ludwig Hantson, President of Baxter BioScience. 'The opening of the Singapore facility reinforces our continued commitment to expanding access to advanced, high quality treatments for patients around the world.'

Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director at the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), added: 'Baxter’s expansion of its biologics footprint in Singapore reinforces our position as a leading biologics hub. This facility will support Baxter’s growth in the global market and Singapore celebrates its opening. EDB will continue to invest in talent development, supporting infrastructure and new technologies to support the biologics sector.'

The Singapore facility received regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency in January this for the production of Advate, which allows Baxter to process and supply the drug to the European Union, Iceland and Norway.