SCIGEN OPENS NEW VACCINE MANUFACTURING PLANT

Singapore-based SciGen has announced the official opening of its new vaccine manufacturing facility. The facility will produce the company's third-generation hepatitis B vaccine, Sci B Vac, for distribution in Europe and the Asia/Pacific region.

The manufacturing facility, located in Israel, was built in close consultation with regulatory authorities, and the company expects U.S. and European regulators to grant it their approvals. SciGen believes the expanded production capacity will increase its share of the vaccine market to more than $1.2 billion worldwide.

Sci B Vac is a recombinant hepatitis B Vaccine produced using Chinese hamster ovary cells. The vaccine has been shown to be highly immunogenic and safe in infants, children and adults, according to the company.

SciGen manufactures vaccines and therapeutics focused on the areas of gastroenterology, endocrinology and immunology. The company has subsidiaries in the U.S., Australia, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Vietnam and India.