Amgen, a leading global biotechnology company, and NSG BioLabs, Singapore’s largest and leading biotechnology (biotech) incubator, announced the launch of a 3-year Golden Ticket sponsorship. Amgen’s Golden Ticket sponsorship marks the first of the NSG Tomorrow Program created to help innovative biotech startups execute towards their vision.
As part of the sponsorship, Amgen will support one “Golden Ticket” award each year for three years, providing winners with one year of free residency in NSG Biolabs’ fully equipped turnkey BSL-2 laboratory as well as additional facility benefits and connections to Amgen’s scientific and business leaders. Companies and pre-incorporated projects in Singapore which are conducting research in specialised biotech fields or developing novel medicines and therapeutics can apply to join the competitive programme. Areas of interest include novel and transformational therapies to treat oncology, inflammatory, hepatic and cardiometabolic diseases as well as innovative research and biomanufacturing platforms. Amgen’s internal scientific committee selects the Golden Ticket winner following an interactive pitch event.
“Singapore is a leading innovation hub in Asia, with high-quality biomedical science performed at internationally renowned institutions based in the country. Recognizing the growing biotech ecosystem locally, and Amgen’s high-tech biopharmaceutical manufacturing footprint located in Singapore, our sponsorship of the Golden Ticket with NSG BioLabs aims to further foster early-stage life science companies and provide unique mentoring opportunities for local scientist-entrepreneurs. Amgen R&D and Operations teams are excited to partner with NSG BioLabs to support the burgeoning bioscience community in Singapore, and further enable emerging life-science startups,” said Philip Tagari, Vice President Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen.
Amgen Singapore began operations in 2014 as Amgen’s first Next Generation biomanufacturing facility in Asia, heralding state-of-the-art efficiencies and innovative production of medicines in commercial-scale manufacturing. Working closely with healthcare providers and the community to address the region’s growing healthcare needs, Amgen continues to drive innovation in science and biotechnology and to develop a pipeline of skilled specialists and quality biomedical careers for the Singapore biotech industry.