SCG cell therapy to establish cell therapy pilot cGMP manufacturing facility and R&D centre in Singapore

Singapore-based SCG Cell Therapy Pte Ltd (SCG), has announced today the establishment of a state-of-the-art cell therapy research and manufacturing hub in Singapore. With the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the hub comprises a pilot manufacturing facility and an R&D centre. SCG expects to begin construction in 2022 and anticipates it to be operational in 2023. SCG plans to hire up to 30 scientists, engineers, and managers locally.

The new Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) pilot facility will employ the latest sophisticated closed and automated cell therapy manufacturing technologies for cell therapy production, validated by the Cell Therapy Facility of Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA-CTF) and accredited by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The site will facilitate research and development of SCG’s growing pipeline of cell therapy product candidates, as well as provide regional and global supply capacity for product development and clinical trials.

The support from EDB gives SCG the capability and the certainty to leverage Singapore’s local network and talent to fast-track the development of first-in-class cell therapy products, beneficial to both local and overseas patients.

“EDB’s support strengthens our local capabilities to develop novel and affordable cell therapy for infection-associated cancers, which exert a heavy burden on the Asian population”, he added.

Infection-related cancers remain a leading cause of cancer death in South-Eastern and Eastern Asia. This state-of-the-art centre will support global cell therapy production and clinical trials.

SCG’s T-cell receptor (TCR) T cell therapy for hepatitis B (HBV) associated liver cancer – SCG101 is the first cell therapy product receiving clinical trial approval across the United States, Singapore and China.

“Lending our expertise in cell therapy and international presence across Singapore, China and Europe, this international hub in Singapore will increase our overall capacity and expand our ability to accelerate global clinical trials and product commercialization“, he added.

The global T-cell therapy market is expected to reach USD 20.3 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research. Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the fastest compound annual growth rate.