Pharma giant Sanofi opens new $800m facility in Tuas
Sanofi’s $800M Facility: French pharmaceutical company Sanofi opened an $800 million manufacturing plant, Modulus, in Singapore’s Tuas Biomedical Park, set to be fully operational by mid-2026
Advanced Modular Concept: Modulus is the world’s first modular facility, enabling flexible production of vaccines and biopharmaceutical products using 34 interconnected modules.
Strategic Location: Singapore was chosen for its advanced manufacturing ecosystem, fostering innovation, sustainability, and access to raw materials and technologies.
Economic and Pandemic Preparedness: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung highlighted the facility’s role in bolstering Singapore’s pandemic response capabilities and contributing to the biopharmaceutical sector’s $19 billion output.
Biopharma Expansion in 2024: Sanofi joins global firms like Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer, which announced or opened significant facilities in Singapore this year, reinforcing the country’s position as a pharmaceutical hub.
A French pharmaceutical giant has opened a new $800 million manufacturing facility in Tuas Biomedical Park.
The 58,000 sq m plant – Sanofi’s second factory in Singapore – will produce vaccines and other biopharmaceutical products such as enzymes and laboratory-grown antibodies.
The new facility, called Modulus, will be fully operational by mid-2026. It will hire 200 people by 2026 in roles such as engineering, data analysis and tech.
Sanofi said Modulus is the world’s first “modular concept” facility. The plant can accommodate 34 production modules with interconnected equipment, allowing it to switch production between different vaccines and biopharmaceutical products within days.
Modulus site head Koh Liang Hong told The Straits Times on Nov 27 that Singapore was chosen for the new facility due to the country’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem, which supports the growth, innovation and sustainability goals of biopharmaceutical companies.
“Singapore is not just an economic hub, but also a technology and innovation hub,” he said.
“To proceed with massive investments like Modulus, you need to have a whole ecosystem of suppliers of raw materials, of starters, of innovation technologies in the same area, which is what Singapore brings.”
Headquartered in Paris, Sanofi has operations in 100 countries and a global headcount of 91,000. The company specializes in the production of general medicine, vaccines, and specialty care.
Read the full article: Pharma giant Sanofi opens new $800m facility in Tuas, will expand hiring
