Novartis Pharma To Establish Manufacturing Facility In Singapore

Novartis Pharma AG announced today that it plans to build a new pharmaceutical production facility in Singapore, providing additional needed capacity within its global manufacturing network. The facility will produce tablets for the global market. Construction is expected to begin in late 2004, with operations beginning in 2007. Novartis will invest approximately USD 180 million in the project, which includes building and equipment, leasing of land, a distribution center and start-up costs.

"The new Singapore facility will enhance and complement our existing network of pharmaceutical production plants," said Andreas Rummelt, Head of Novartis Pharma Technical Operations. "It will also position Novartis for future growth with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility designed to meet the excellent quality standards for which Novartis is known."

To keep pace with projected growth rates in the years ahead, Novartis needs additional manufacturing capacity. The focus of the Singapore plant will be on bulk production of new and existing Novartis products. When fully operational in 2008, the plant and distribution center are expected to employ more than 150 people.

With this latest investment, Novartis will further strengthen its presence in Singapore. Novartis established its Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) in Singapore last year and its CIBA Vision Business Unit is in the process of building a contact lens manufacturing facility there.

"We are very pleased that Novartis has chosen Singapore for this pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. Novartis' announcement today is a strong statement about Singapore's Biomedical Sciences capabilities. This project will further strengthen the Novartis-Singapore partnership that was forged when the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases was established here," said Philip Yeo, Chairman for the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, and Co-Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board for Biomedical Sciences.

Source: Novartis