Dr Danny Soon

Senior Director, Health and Biomedical Cluster

Biomedical Research Council

BornGlobal Innovators Summit24th Sep 2019

How A-STAR Works with Industry

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1991 - 1995 1996 - 2000 2001 - 2005 2006 - 2010 2011 - 2015 2016 - 2020

1st National

Technology

Plan

National

Science and

Technology Plan

Science and

Technology

2005

Science and

Technology

2010

Research

Innovation

Enterprise

2015

Research

Innovation

Enterprise

2020

$2bil $4bil $6bil $13.9bil $16.1bil $19bil

Ensure

excellent science

and invest strategically in curiosity driven

and mission oriented research

Strengthen flow through from

research to economic and societal

impact

Ensure responsiveness to pursue new

opportunities and technology

developments

Greater national coordination of multi-

stakeholder and multi-disciplinary

collaboration

Sustain a robust and diverse

research base and innovation

workforce

Emphasis on competitive

funding

CAA: 1

RIE 2020 Strategic Thrusts

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Aims to facilitate better integration and synergy in R&D efforts across research performers and stakeholders in our system

DOMAINS

(VERTICALS)

Advanced Manufacturing

and Engineering

Support growth & competitiveness of

manufacturing & engineering sectors

Health and Biomedical

Sciences

Advance human health & wellness, and create economic

value for Singapore & Singaporeans

Services and Digital

Economy

Leverage digital innovation to create economic opportunities and meet national priorities

Urban Solutions and

Sustainability

Develop a sustainable & livable city through integrated solutions for Singapore and

the World

Academic Research

Manpower

Innovation & Enterprise

Build up a significant base of capabilities and a pipeline of ideas that can drive the next phase of growth

Build a strong research and innovation community

Build a strong core of innovative enterprises that drive value creation and economic competitiveness

CR

OS

S-C

UT

TIN

G P

RO

GR

AM

ME

S

(HO

RIZ

ON

TA

LS

)

Domains based framework

Research, Innovation & Enterprise 2020 (RIE 2020)

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Slide 4 of X

Growth of Local Biotech/Medtech Ecosystem

~230 medtech companies as of 2017

~80 biotech companies as of 2017• Shift from in-licensing to made-in-Singapore

assets

• Raised US$130M in latest funding round, led by Temasek, EDBi, Heliconia and other investors

• Raised US$43M listing on NASDAQ.

• Raised US$20M in Series A led by Lightstone Ventures, with participation from Temasek and Osage University Partners

• Raised US$10M in seed funding (Largest SEA institutional seed round) co-led by Danhua Venture Capital and 6 Dimensions Capital, with participation from WuXi AppTec, EDBI, Pavilion Capital, Baidu Ventures, WI Harper and Nest.Bio Ventures

• Raised US$20M in Series A led by undisclosed existing investors and other new investors such as Yashang Capital and Westlake Ventures Capital

• Acquisition of Veredus Labs by Sekisui Medical for estimated US$83M

In 1st 6 months of 2018, there have been >US$300M in deals and investments for Singapore biotechs

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A*STAR and Local Biotechs

Joint Lab for developing immuno-therapy drugs against cancer

Joint Lab to use gene-editing technology to enhance T-cell products for treating cancer

Joint Labs Licensing & Co-development

• Develop exosomes as GMP-grade therapeutics to treat Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB)

• Therapeutic mAb against RON kinasep53Laboratory

• Out-licensing of checkpoint inhibitors to spin-out, Euchloe Bio, which was subsequently acquired by Tessa Therapeutics

Joint lab to develop and integrate Invitrocue’s Onco-PDOTM platform to link phenotypic and genomic data

with patient response

Startup IncubationCo-innovation space to incubate, develop, train and support technopreneurs to build successful startupsand business ventures.

Examples of past and present members

NUS spinout in T-cell therapy

Therapeutic Abs against emerging infections

Platform to personalise combination therapies

Molecular diagnostics

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BiopolisJTC Launchpad

6

Biopolis as Biotech Accelerator+

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Low Entry Barrier

High Entry Barrier

Standard Lab

Traditional Batch Plant

Continuous manufacturing

Biocatalysis

Advanced Process Control

IIOT

Hybrid Plant

Decontaminationplatform

Continuous manufacturing

Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS)

MOU signed on 5 Sep 2017

Batch manufacturing

Small Molecules Manufacturing R&D

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P&G Innovation Centre Nestle Research Agreement

CHUGAI Pharmabody Research Centre

• Jan 2015: Expanded R&D investments in Singapore with total commitment of $476 mil over 9 years

• May 2013: R&D Centre in Jurong expands• Dec 2014: Food Science & Nutrition Office

opens in Biopolis. >$9M of collaborative projects with A*STAR

• Nov 2016: NRC Asia to open in Biopolis

• Sep 2013: MRCA with A*STAR to establish $60M joint research fund >60 projects to date

• Mar 2014: Singapore Innovation Centre opens in Biopolis, comprising >$250m investment and >500 FTEs

MRCA with GE Healthcare

Partnership with Global Industry Leaders

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Collaboration / Alliance modelIn-house model “Integrated” model

Integrated Translational Oncology Network

Institutes of Higher Learni

ng

Other Publi

c Playe

rs

Academic

Medical Centers

Coordination hub to manage research projects between multiple research institutes in SingaporeFocus on Asian prevalent cancersTo bring compounds from pre-clinical development to first-in-man trials

Antibody Research Centre

Investment of S$470M to develop their corporate labResearch team expanding to ~100 man focusing on antibody engineering

Translational Medicine Research Hub

~40 RSEs with molecule and biologic discovery, imaging, pharmacology and conduct of translational medicine studies

Tapping on local research institutes for expertise in target ID, biomarkers and hospitals/ investigational medicine units for FIH/ POC trials

Integrated projects with shared engagement to identify targets and develop translational programs

Joint ownership of research projects to move from identificaiton and validation of novel targets to POC trials

R&D Collaboration Models

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