AstraZeneca is investing $1.5bn in a manufacturing site in Singapore dedicated to the production of antibody drug conjugates, an advanced form of chemotherapy that the drugmaker believes could replace conventional treatment.
ADCs deliver toxic drugs directly to cancer cells, avoiding damage to surrounding healthy tissue. AstraZeneca has a portfolio of the drugs, including Enhertu, which is currently manufactured by its Japanese partner Daiichi Sankyo and generated more than $2.5bn in sales last year. It is used for breast and lung cancer.
AstraZeneca’s investment in its first fully dedicated ADC site underlines the importance of the drug category to its future business and is the first time the drugmaker has built a manufacturing presence in Singapore, which is known for its generous tax policies and ease of doing business.