Leading New Ways of Workplace Collaboration and Connection to Enhance Innovation, Productivity and Workplace Culture for an Agile Workforce
SINGAPORE (May 14, 2018) – Amgen today announced the official opening of its new manufacturing support office – the NextGen Workplace that is designed to inspire innovation and collaboration, enhance productivity and to build a vibrant work culture to support its growth in Singapore. Located at Tuas Biomedical Hub and spanning more than 7,500 square meters, the NextGen Workplace will support both Amgen's revolutionary NextGen Biomanufacturing and its Chemical Synthesis manufacturing facilities. Amgen has now invested more than SGD$400 million into its Singapore operations.
Amgen's NextGen Workplace will play a pivotal role in attracting and retaining talented staff. Boasting various collaboration spaces that encapsulate Amgen's brand values, the new workplace engages employees with highly flexible activity-based work options to drive faster decisions, foster greater exploration of ideas and connect colleagues while integrating social spaces for employees to recharge.
"At Amgen, our aim is to always groom a future-ready workforce to transform the promise of science and biotechnology into therapies that fulfil our mission to serve patients around the world. Amgen's NextGen Workplace in Singapore marks an important milestone in our ongoing journey to become more agile and patient-focused. This new workspace and our complementary work policies not only enhance our productivity and the way we work but will also support our efforts to create a workspace that is open, empowering and encourage collaboration," said Arleen Paulino, Vice President, Site Operations at Amgen Singapore Manufacturing.
"The expansion of Amgen's local footprint is testament to Singapore's strong track record for best-in-class pharmaceutical manufacturing. Singapore continues to see companies such as Amgen build on their existing presence here to manufacture new pharmaceutical products and adopt new manufacturing technologies. EDB remains committed to supporting the continued growth and talent development of the sector, to create good business and jobs opportunities," said Ms. Ho Weng Si, Director, Biomedical Sciences, Singapore Economic Development Board.
Ms Ho also congratulated Amgen on its agile approach towards the future of work as seen in its NextGen Workplace, which is aligned with Singapore's continued push for innovation and productivity.
Amgen's Manufacturing Presence in Singapore
Amgen's groundbreaking Next-Generation Biomanufacturing facility, opened in 2014, is its first manufacturing facility that uses the latest innovations and multiple techonologies to achieve greater speed, productivity and flexibility in commercial-scale manufacturing. Built in half the construction time and at approximately one quarter of the capital cost, the facility boosts a smaller manufacturing footprint and higher environmental efficiencies including a 45% reduction in water consumption and 69% less energy used and carbon emitted.
The Next-Generation Biomanufacturing facility has successfully achieved regulatory approvals for the production of biologic medicines from major regulatory bodies including the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMEA), Health Canada and ANIVSA (Brazil) and the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification from Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
The Chemical Synthesis Manufacturing facility, Amgen's first Active Pharmacutical Ingredient (API) plant in Asia, is seeking commercial licensure.
Amgen Singapore currently has 8 innovative medicines marketed in Singapore for patients suffering from serious illnesses. The company has grown its workforce by more than 450% to over 350 employees since 2014. It is also an active proponent in developing a pipeline of specialists for Singapore's biologics manufacturing sector through industry manpower development programs such as Development and Apprenticeship1 (DNA) and Local BOOST2 (Local Biologics Skills Training).
The Amgen Foundation has committed SGD$280,000 to the Amgen Biotech Experience in Singapore through to 2020. A global hands-on molecular biology program that is designed to introduce teachers and students to the excitement of scientific discovery to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the pilot program launched in Singapore last year has since engaged more than 300 students and 12 teachers from five schools. The program aims to reach more than 500 students and 20 teachers across 10 schools in 2018.
NOTES:
1. Development and Apprenticeship (DNA)
2. Local BOOST
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About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com, www.amgen.com.sg, and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
Contact:
Amgen, Singapore
Mindy Chee, +65 6675-0754 (media)
Kristen Davis, 805-447-3008 (media) Kristen Neese, 805-313-8267 (media) Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)
Edelman, SingaporeLim Min Qi, +65 6494-1404