Sanofi Launches $595 Million Vaccine Facility in Singapore to Combat Potential Pandemics

• In a matter of days, Modulus, the facility, can switch between producing various vaccines or treatments.
• By mid-2026, the project will contribute approximately 200 skilled jobs to Singapore.
• Sanofi's 900 million euro investment includes the development of two new EVFs globally over five years, with the Singapore facility being a part of this initiative.
• The other facility is in Neuville-sur-Saône, France.

The French pharmaceutical giant opened an 800 million Singapore dollar ($595 million) "evolutive vaccine facility," or EVF, in Singapore, which is the only such facility the company has outside of France.

This plant, called Modulus, can rapidly switch between producing various vaccines or treatments in a short timeframe, compared to the longer timeframes required in traditional facilities. Additionally, it can be easily adapted to produce up to four vaccines or biopharmaceuticals simultaneously.

The facility has the potential to significantly enhance pandemic preparedness, according to Sanofi.

Modulus can guarantee a prompt and precise reaction to any future health demands, including possible pandemics, by laying the foundation for essential production components now.

The other EVF is located in Neuville-sur-Saône, France, as part of the company's 900 million euro ($948 million) investment to develop two new EVFs worldwide over five years.

During the launch, Sanofi's executive vice president for manufacturing and supply, Brendan O'Callaghan, stated that while the Modulus facility serves as a global manufacturing hub, the company will collaborate with authorities to make capacity available "as much as we can" in the event of a pandemic.

We won't reserve capacity at the moment, but we will examine our options to be flexible and support such an event.

The main advantage of Modulus over traditional vaccine and biotherapeutics plants, he stated, was the ability to rapidly increase or decrease production at a much faster rate.

In the event of a pandemic, we can adjust our current production, increase the production of any necessary items, and strive for equilibrium.

At the inauguration event, Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung emphasized the importance of enhancing pandemic preparedness and response in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in "a surge of vaccine nationalism" as countries aimed to create and manufacture their own vaccines.

Instead of inviting companies to invest in Singapore, Ong suggested a new approach in his keynote speech, which involves inviting companies like Sanofi to build up the country's capabilities.

The facility will provide approximately 200 jobs to the city-state, with positions in bioprocess engineering, automation, and data analysis, and will be fully operational by mid-2026.

"We are doing this because we have a small local market. 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," Ong said.

In Singapore, the country boasts a competitive tax system, a highly skilled and educated workforce, and a stable industrial relationship.

Unions here are different, and they work closely with industry and governments to achieve our objectives through a tripartite relationship.

Due to factors such as good living conditions, the rule of law, and a stable political and social environment, international investors are confident in investing their most critical facilities in Singapore.

Biomedical hub

In 2024, Singapore received several high-profile biomedical investments, including a $256 million investment from Swiss pharma firm Novartis in March to expand its manufacturing plant in the city-state.

Other major companies, including AstraZeneca and , also made similar announcements, investing $1.5 billion and $1 billion, respectively, to establish new facilities.

The Singapore Economic Development Board stated last month that the country has more than 60 manufacturing facilities, including plants of seven of the world's top 10 biopharmaceutical companies, which produce products ranging from active pharmaceutical ingredients to therapeutics, vaccines, and cell therapies. According to the health ministry, this figure has now increased to eight out of the top 10.