Singapore: Mundipharma has delivered another boost to the City State's booming biomedical sector, announcing a planned 7,300m2 facility in Tuas at an official groundbreaking ceremony attended by Minister of State for Trade & Industry, Dr Koh Poh Koon.

The new facility will be the world's first BETADINE Consumer Health Hub that combines R&D, manufacturing and distribution. The povidone-iodine-based solution has been trusted by hospitals, doctors and consumers around the world for more than 60 years, and the new facility will produce the equivalent of approximately one billion applications of BETADINE treatments annually to meet increased demand in the region.

In vitro studies have proven that BETADINE kills the viruses associated with diseases including Ebola, MERS, SARS, Influenza and Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. Research shows that the number of outbreaks, and types of disease, have both increased significantly in recent times.

Manufacturing BETADINE in Singapore will enable Mundipharma to respond quickly to regional health crises, while the R&D function will seek new solutions to meet the unique healthcare challenges faced by an increasingly globalized region.

Mundipharma President of Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa, Mr Raman Singh, said, "Given the accelerating demand for essential treatments, and 70 per cent of new demand projected to come from Asia, it's critical to have a strategically positioned manufacturing capability supported by an R&D function that is dedicated to unique characteristics of the region it supports.

"Mundipharma shares the rising sense of responsibility in the pharmaceuticals sector to ensure that the emerging world has equal access to innovation and supply as the more mature Western economies. Singapore is ideally placed to deliver on this goal," he added.

Mundipharma, which already has its regional headquarters in Singapore, has achieved significant growth over the past four years, and is proud to be part of the city-state's dynamic business landscape.

"We welcome Mundipharma's strong commitment to Singapore. This is testament to Singapore's capabilities to partner companies in both the production and development of innovative medicines to address global healthcare needs. The vibrant Biomedical Sciences ecosystem in Singapore makes it a choice location for companies to carry out manufacturing, R&D and commercial headquarters activities in one place", said Ms Weng Si Ho, Director, Biomedical Sciences, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

A further demonstration of Mundipharma's commitment to the region, the highly-automated new facility will feature cutting-edge technology and house six BETADINE production lines, creating demand for a range of jobs. The facility will be operational in January 2018.