APAC links labs to advanced therapy production

Singapore’s biomanufacturing sector is working to bridge the gap between academic labs and commercial drug production, a challenge that becomes more pressing as advanced therapies expand across Asia-Pacific.

At the APAC Biomanufacturing Leadership Summit 2026 in Singapore, Lucas Chan, a consultant and adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore, explained that the region’s regulatory differences and manufacturing complexities create obstacles. “Innovation is happening everywhere, but turning it into safe, scalable products remains difficult,” he told attendees.

From lab bench to factory floor

Chan’s role connects academia and industry, offering him insight into both. Universities produce promising discoveries, but converting those into regulated drugs demands a different approach. “The science may be advanced, but developers frequently overlook the pharmaceutical requirements—consistency, scalability, and compliance,” he said.

One common misunderstanding is that strong lab results guarantee an easy path to market. In practice, companies must demonstrate the therapy can be manufactured identically every time, at commercial volumes, without losing effectiveness. The process often takes years and requires significant investment.

Early planning around chemistry, manufacturing, and controls can avoid costly delays. Companies that enter clinical trials without a clear manufacturing strategy often face setbacks when regulators request additional data. “Success depends on having a well-defined plan, not just moving quickly,” Chan said.

The varying rules across markets increase costs and delays. Even partial harmonization could help smaller developers enter multiple countries without redesigning their processes for each one.

Chan believes artificial intelligence could help level the field. AI tools analyze manufacturing data to identify patterns that might go unnoticed, improving efficiency and reducing waste. While AI is already used in drug discovery to predict molecular behavior, it could also optimize production lines in real time. “The aim is to support teams with faster, more accurate insights,” he said.

Collaboration over competition

The region’s economic, technological, and regulatory diversity makes cooperation necessary. No single institution can manage every step from discovery to commercialization. Contract research organizations, contract development and manufacturing organizations, and academic labs each contribute, but their efforts often remain isolated.

Chan called gatherings like the APAC Biomanufacturing Leadership Summit opportunities for stakeholders to share best practices. “Bringing everyone together helps define what quality looks like,” he said.

The biggest challenge remains scaling up from academic research to commercial production. Companies that prioritize manufacturing strategy early are more likely to succeed. “It’s not the most exciting part of the process, but it’s where progress happens,” Chan said.

The summit discussions highlighted that Asia-Pacific’s biomanufacturing sector is still developing. With better regulatory cooperation and smarter use of technology, the region could accelerate the translation of innovations into clinical therapies. Some treatments, like fecal transplants, show how scientific advances can address unexpected health needs.