GlaxoSmithKline has opened two continuous manufacturing facilities in Jurong, Singapore, following a $95.6 million investment as part of the company’s 10-year strategic plan in Singapore. The facilities expand an existing production building and aim to shorten timelines to produce daprodustat.
 
Daprodustat, a new chemical entity (NCE) will be produced at the additional facility and the company expects the use of continuous manufacturing to reduce production time. The drug is currently in Phase III development for the treatment of anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease.
 
One of the continuous manufacturing facilities will be used as part of an R&D Pilot Plant and will manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for clinical trials. An expansion of the existing production facility will be used to create APIs for dolutegravir used in Dovato (dolutegravir and lamivudine). The HIV therapy was recently approved by the FDA as the first two-drug, fixed-dose, regimen.
 
The facility expansion also allows GSK to test and develop digital technologies in the manufacturing process.