GSK in Singapore More than 40 years of partnership in Asia

From a single amoxicillin plant in 1972, GSK now has extensive activities in Singapore from manufacturing to R&D

to commercial.

Today this global healthcare company brings vaccines and innovative medicines manufactured in Singapore to patients

in Asia and the world.

Find out more about how GSK and Singapore have formed a partnership for success.

One of the world’s leading pharmaceutical

and healthcare companies

Researches, manufactures and markets medicines, vaccines

and consumer healthcare products

Employs over

97,000people in over 150 countries

Delivers over 800 million doses of vaccines a year, over

to developing countries80%

ASiA iS one of GSK’S fASteSt GrowinG reGionS

From developed markets to countries without universal healthcare, GSK navigates the complex territory that is Asia from Singapore

GSK in SinGApORE

Total investment to date of over

$1.2billion

Set up Singapore’s first drug manufacturing plant at Quality Road producing antibiotics

1972

Opened another manufacturing plant at Jurong to make gastroenterology medicines

1982

Set up $38 million GSK-EDB Trust Fund to build capabilities in green and sustainable manufacturing as well as regional health policy

2009

Opened first primary vaccine manufacturing site outside Belgium at Tuas for $480 million

2010

Launched the GSK-Singapore Academic Centre of Excellence, which allows GSK scientists to collaborate with scientists in Singapore on drug discovery projects

2010

Opened R&D pilot plant in Jurong

2008

Moved global headquarters for Pain Management and Nutrition to Singapore. Our leading Consumer Healthcare brands include:

2013

Traditional manufacturing and research methods use large quantities of energy and solvents GSK in SinGApoRe wAnTS To be GReeneR

manufacturing facilities in Singapore producing:

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for use in medicines

around the world

GSK’s most complex vaccine, which targets

pneumococcal disease

GReen chemiSTRy iniTATive

reduced solvent use by

in the lab

70%

3

Jurong API manufacturing site is home to the Factory of the Future project which

AimS To cuT cARbon

emiSSionS by

30%

Enzyme-based manufacturing

with

to produce amoxicillin at Quality Road plant

0SolvenTS

All currency is in USD

MAnufActurinG MedicineS And vAccineS for the world

SuStAinAble MAnufActurinG And cheMiStry

inveSTinG in SinGApoRe - hiGh coST, hiGh ReTuRnS, excellenT vAlue FoR money

“When we started in Singapore more than 40 years ago, we depended on technology transfer from the UK, with approval from global headquarters required whenever we needed to make changes to our manufacturing process. Today, our site at Jurong is the lead New Product Introduction site in GSK, with world class infrastructure and state of the art manufacturing technology. It has a huge responsibility in delivering GSK’s pipeline of New Chemical Entities. Singapore today contributes knowledge and expertise to GSK’s global manufacturing network.

The key differentiator for Singapore is that it has a highly competent workforce with strong work ethics, working within a compliant and continuous improvement culture. With high standards in quality and EHS performance, our site at Jurong routinely secures the right within the GSK global manufacturing network to make new products, ensuring a secure and uninterrupted supply of new products to patients. When we need to validate and launch new products, our primary focus is on assurance of success. Cost is an important consideration and is one of a number of criteria deployed to evaluate the value derived from our site’s operation in Singapore.

In recent years, EDB has been a strong supporter in developing the capability of our local workforce and the introduction of new technological platforms. The outcome of this partnership is the development of highly trained local staff who are able to successfully operate a world class manufacturing operation. This translates as a distinct advantage for both GSK and Singapore as a centre of excellence in pharmaceutical production.”

Lim HOCK HEnG Vice-President & Site Director, Global Manufacturing & Supply (Singapore), GSK

beneFiTTinG FRom A compeTiTive enviRonmenT

“A number of multinational pharmaceutical companies have offices and regional headquarters in Singapore, and that’s actually a good thing. One challenge for all businesses is to stay externally-focused and to bring in new ideas from outside. So this enables us to learn new ways of doing things from other companies and other industries.

Another advantage is that we can talk to each other. Many other members of the industry are here and many industry bodies. That means that we can get together to talk about non-competitive topics that affect the whole industry.

This includes areas such as tackling counterfeit medicines or finding ways to support the enforcement of appropriate commercial practices in the region. That benefits both the industry and consumers, and it’s made easier because we’re all here.”

JO LECOuiLLiARD Senior Vice-President & General Manager, Asia Pacific, GSK

TAlenTeD woRKFoRce FoR vAccine plAnT

“In establishing our state-of-the-art vaccines manufacturing facility at Tuas, we had to recruit and train over 400 employees between 2009 and 2014. EDB, working closely with the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and local tertiary institutions, was, and remains, an essential partner in our search for this pool of talented and skilled workers. We hired, and continue to hire, Singaporean graduates with strong academic backgrounds in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with additional training made available to support the development of our staff.

The universities, polytechnics and technical schools in Singapore are open to adapting their curricula to meet the talent needs of our industry. For example, we have recently announced our participation in an industry partnership with Nanyang Polytechnic involving a 37-week internship programme for students within the biologics manufacturing sector.

The way EDB develops their partnerships with the biopharmaceutical industry is very impressive - we work closely with them to develop programmes which will ensure that we continue to adapt to the competitive business environment in Singapore.

There are many reasons why GSK selected Singapore as the location for it latest global vaccines manufacturing facility. One, which is very important for me, is the education of the workforce. Our technicians, engineers and scientists are well-educated, hardworking, and have a real appetite for learning.”

VinCEnT LORET Site Director, Vaccines Manufacturing, Tuas (Singapore), GSK

DiGiTAl expeRTiSe comeS To ASiA viA SinGApoRe

“In 2013, we moved the global headquarters of our Pain Management and Nutrition categories to Singapore. What stood out was the encouragement we received to do that.

Singapore is looking to bring in new capability, to create an innovation hub and a creative hub. We’ve benefitted from that in our marketing: digital expertise is coming to Asia and it is coming via Singapore. The government has been very big on talent, making it easier to both bring in expats and find local talent.

Also, when we were moving the categories in, we worked with EDB on how many people we were transferring, where they were going to send their kids to school, finding them housing, and making sure they settle in. These are big considerations to take into account when you’re moving people, both from the business side and the personal side, and EDB has been very good on that.”

JOHn SAyERS President, Consumer Healthcare, Asia Pacific and Latin America, GSK

interview with Abbas hussain, GSK president, Global pharmaceuticals:

how GSK and Singapore have formed a partnership for success

AbouT eDb

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. EDB dreams, designs and delivers solutions that create value for investors and companies in Singapore. Our mission is to create for Singapore sustainable economic growth with vibrant business and good job opportunities. EDB’s Home strategy articulates how we are positioning Singapore for the future. It is about extending Singapore’s value proposition to businesses not just to help them improve their bottom line, but also to help them grow their top line through establishing and deepening strategic activities in Singapore to drive their business, innovation and talent objectives in Asia and globally.

conTAcT uS

eDb heAD oFFice(SinGApoRe)

250 North Bridge Road#28-00 Raffles City TowerSingapore 179101

Tel: (65) 6832-6832Email: clientservices@edb.gov.sg

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