SPEECH BY MR ONG YE KUNG, MINISTER FOR HEALTH, AT THE SANOFI MODULUS SINGAPORE FACILITY OPENING CEREMONY

Mr Brendan O’Callaghan, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply, Sanofi

Mr Koh Liang Hong, Site Head of Modulus, Sanofi

Mr Png Cheong Boon, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board 

Her Excellency Minh-di Tang, Ambassador of France to Singapore

Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen

1.               I am very happy to join you today to mark the opening of Sanofi’s Modulus. This is a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Singapore, and the first for Sanofi outside of France. Singapore is truly honoured to host you in our little island.

2.               This occasion also represents a milestone in the longstanding partnership between Sanofi and Singapore, a journey that began 50 years ago. Then, our local biopharmaceutical manufacturing was in its infancy. Today, the situation has changed entirely.

3.               We are into our third five-year Research Innovation and Enterprise Plan, of which a key pillar is Human Health and Potential. Under this pillar, we are devoting resources annually, over and over again, and also talent into clinical trials, research, population health, precision medicine, pandemic preparedness and clinical care. We are bringing hospitals, academic institutions and very importantly industries to work together to advance medical science and deliver better health outcomes, and at the same time grow our economy and further upgrade our capabilities.

4.               As for the industry, Singapore is proud to be home to 60 manufacturing facilities today in the biopharmaceutical industry, including eight of the top ten biopharmaceutical companies in the world. They produce a wide range of drug modalities, from small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients to biologics and cell therapies. Today, the sector is contributing over S$19 billion in output, a threefold increase from 20 years ago, and a significant employment of 9,000 personnel, all in very good jobs. This is one of the clear growing sectors with a bright future here.

5.               Sanofi has been an important part of this journey of Singapore’s biopharmaceutical growth. Sanofi started as a small molecule manufacturing plant in Jurong in 1970. Since 1997, you have established in Singapore the Southeast Asia and India regional headquarters.

6.               Sanofi is also a founding member of the Biologics Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore. Through the Programme, you work with local research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises and other multinational corporations to develop new technologies for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Sanofi is also partnering the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National Skin Centre in developing a first-of-its-kind vaccine for acne. We read about it in the papers today. I think many teenagers will be very excited.

7.               Today, with the opening of the Modulus, the partnership between Singapore and Sanofi has gained further importance and taken a further leap ahead. Let me just highlight a few salient factors. They have probably been said before, but I think it’s important, as Minister of Health, that I say this again.

8.               First, Modulus will create 200 new jobs, adding to Sanofi’s current 600-strong workforce in Singapore today. These are good jobs, aligned to Singapore’s economic strategy to develop high value-added industries. They include bioprocess engineers, data analysts, quality control experts, as well as experts in artificial intelligence and bioinformatics.

9.               Sanofi has been taking in interns from our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), to familiarise potential new entrants into the industry with the automation and process solutions for the facility. In addition, they also participated in Career Conversion Programme for biomedical manufacturing launched in November 2022. Sanofi has worked with 24 interns and six individuals, of whom 14 were subsequently hired as permanent and term staff. I spent years working on workers’ training and career conversion. I have to emphasise that the numbers are not staggering, but I know that the effort is, and the effort is very meaningful. Because it is one thing to invest money and build up a plant, but it is a totally different matter for the local management to put in the effort to engage workers and retrain them, and to engage our IHLs and train them to suit your needs. That participation of industries in our education and training efforts is actually priceless. Thank you very much for that.

10.           Singapore, through our education system and lifelong learning systems,  will do our best to work with Sanofi and also the broader industry to produce the talent needed for this critical investment.

11.           Second, Modulus will further strengthen our collaboration in pandemic preparedness and response. This is especially important now, post-COVID-19 pandemic. There is a swell of pandemic nationalism after COVID-19, as many countries now justifiably aspire to develop and produce their own national vaccines.

12.           In Singapore, through the Economic Development Board (EDB), we try to take a different approach, by drawing international, best-in-class companies like Sanofi to further invest in our shores and build up capabilities here. We are doing this not despite having a small local market, but because we have a small local market. Because with a modest domestic demand, coupled with Singapore's role as an international hub, an investment here is well-positioned to serve broader regional and global needs. I should say that post-pandemic, your ability to flexibly change between technological platforms, is extremely strategic.

13.           Which brings me to my final point. Modulus will further cement our collaboration to advance medical care. There is a big overlap between the ambition of Singapore and Sanofi. Singapore aspires to be at the forefront of managing chronic diseases, enhancing population health and promoting active ageing. On the other hand, Sanofi is one of the forerunners in biomanufacturing, with the ambition to become a world leader in immunology, targeting diseases such as asthma, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and chronic bronchitis.

14.           Together, we can help realise each other’s vision and dreams. Modulus is a concrete example of how we can do so. It is the most technologically advanced facility in Sanofi’s global manufacturing network, alongside its France facility. With its adaptable design and scalable production capabilities, it is central to realising Sanofi’s pipeline of biotherapeutics. For example, Modulus is able to produce a range of biologics, such as mRNA vaccines, enzymes and monoclonal antibodies, and transition between these technological platforms within days.

15.           On Singapore’s part, growing investments and being open to the world are critical for Singapore. Within Singapore, we make sure that the conditions are right – a competitive tax regime, skilled and well-educated workers who can run the plant well - reliably, safely and competently – and stable industrial relationship. The unions here work with the industry and the government in a close tripartite relationship, helping each other realise our objectives. Do experience that in Singapore, and our unique brand of tripartism. We also have good living conditions, rule of law, and a very stable political and social environment. For these basic and essential reasons, international investors are confident in putting their most important facilities here.

16.           We are writing a new chapter in the Sanofi-Singapore story, one of shared ambition and a commitment to improve lives. Just like how the name “Modulus” embodies adaptability and innovation, I am confident that Sanofi will continue to play an important role in Singapore’s healthcare advancement.

17.           I asked Cheong Boon if he has anything else he wants me to say, and he said to tell everyone to be patient. The biopharmaceutical industry takes a long time to grow. Pipeline investment takes a long time to go through clinical trials, develop regulatory approval, and finally be adopted by the healthcare system. But I do not think that will change very much. But on the other hand, I think we are on the verge of a major breakthrough in the healthcare sector, and in the biopharmaceutical sector. I have said it in previous speeches before. I think we are seeing an unprecedented overlap of three major forces. One, artificial intelligence. Two, precision medicine and genomics. And three, because of an ageing population, a very strong focus on preventive care. These three forces, when overlapped, can create a new renaissance for the biopharmaceutical industry. So, let us journey together to improve lives and grow the sector. Thank you.