Novartis Singapore

Singapore has been reinforcing its commitment to increasing manufacturing value-added by 50% between 2020 and 2030, positioning the nation as a key global player in advanced manufacturing [1]. This ambitious goal reflects the nation's drive to build a resilient, future-ready economy through technological innovation. At Novartis, we are proud to contribute to this vision. Our commitment to advancing the skills of our workforce and fostering technological innovation has been recognized by the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech). We are honored to receive the Distinguished Industry Training Partner Award and the Most Inspiring Team Award. These accolades highlight our dedication to developing a future-ready workforce and achieving manufacturing excellence through our Digital Transformation & Innovation (DTI) program in partnership with SIMTech. Receiving these awards are a testament to our continuous efforts to empowering our employees and enhancing operational efficiency. As we celebrate these achievements, we remain focused on our mission to drive innovation and build a resilient, future-ready Singapore. We look forward to further collaboration with our industry partners and government agencies to make this vision a reality. #NovartisSingapore #DigitalTransformation #AdvancedManufacturing [1] - (2024) DPM Heng Swee Keat at the Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP) 2024. Prime Minister’s Office Singapore. Available at: https://lnkd.in/gPbgQbTi [Last accessed: November 28, 2024].

In Singapore, 1 in 12 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime [1]. This alarming statistic highlights the pressing need to raise awareness and drive action against this disease. Driven by this urgency, Novartis supported the 16th edition of the Pink Ribbon Walk, organized by the Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF), Singapore. Over the years, we have stood by BCF in its mission to raise awareness about breast cancer, and this year’s walk offered another opportunity to demonstrate our commitment. In the lead-up to the walk, 19 of our dedicated associates volunteered their time to distribute goodie bags and share informative materials about breast health awareness. On the event day, 34 associates joined the walk itself at the Marina Barrage. Together with more than 3,000 participants, we marched in solidarity with the breast cancer community, raising awareness and advocating for early detection and prevention. It was a powerful experience that reminded us of the importance of partnerships in making a difference. At Novartis, our continued collaboration with BCF is rooted in our core values. We are inspired to build healthier communities, curious to explore new ways to make an impact, and united in our dedication to fostering meaningful change. The Pink Ribbon Walk is a testament to the strength of partnerships in making a meaningful difference in the community, and we are honoured to walk alongside BCF and all who support the fight against breast cancer. Join us in supporting the fight against breast cancer! Visit the BCF website to learn more: www.bcf.org.sg #NovartisSingapore #BreastCancerAwareness #PinkRibbonWalk2024 #BCAM2024 [1] - (2024) Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2022. Health Promotion Board. Available at: https://lnkd.in/ga5PTWXz [Last accessed: October 24, 2024].

Patient harm due to adverse events is likely to be among the 10 leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and most of these deaths and injuries are avoidable [1]. At Novartis, patient safety is at the core of our mission, driving continuous efforts to protect patients. This broader effort involves our teams working together to collect and analyze data on side effects, develop strategies and action plans to mitigate and prevent risks, and maintain continuous communication and collaboration with health authorities to ensure the safest possible outcomes for patients. In support of this commitment, we conducted an internal initiative aimed at enhancing awareness among our associates about the significance of patient safety. Patient safety is an ongoing collective effort involving patients, healthcare professionals, and medicine companies. It requires vigilant monitoring, communication, and decisive action. Patients play a crucial role by sharing their experiences on medicine usage, which helps shape safer healthcare practices. Healthcare professionals enhance safety through improved diagnosis and the reporting of side effects. These reports help refine the safety profiles of medicines, enabling safer and more confident prescribing for those in need. At Novartis, we stand alongside our patients, healthcare professionals, and global authorities to advance the safety of medicines. Every step we take brings us closer to safer care and better health outcomes. [1] - (2024) World Patient Safety Day, 17 September 2024: “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”. World Health Organization. Available at: https://lnkd.in/eSNin93A [Last accessed: September 19, 2024].

In 2023, Novartis Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) to co-develop and co-deliver curriculum on biologics manufacturing processes over the next three years. As part of this partnership, our associates, Lauren Crumpler Murray, Senior Manufacturing Expert, Downstream and Jeremy Chan, Senior Validation Lead, recently conducted a sharing session in a lesson led by Lecturer Salwa Alsagoff on Downstream Purification. Lauren and Jeremy delved into the fundamentals of biomanufacturing, highlighting the importance of close monitoring during chromatography steps and validation in a commercial facility. Beyond imparting their technical knowledge, they also engaged with students, shedding light on the exciting career prospects and opportunities available at Novartis. This allowed the students to envision their future in the pharmaceutical industry and deepened their understanding of the real-world application of their education. This session bridged the gap between traditional classroom learning and practical, hands-on experiences. It provided a platform for students to realize the potential of their education and inspired them to embark on a journey towards making a difference in patients’ lives. At Novartis, we firmly believe that strong partnerships with educational institutions are vital. By continuously working together to nurture the next generation, we are helping to build a future led by innovative and empowered individuals who will carry forward our mission of improving patients’ lives to an even greater success. #NovartisSingapore #Inspired

At the Singapore Clinical Research Institute (SCRI) Clinical Trials Symposium 2024 last week, Novartis Singapore’s Country President, Hwee Tee Poh, joined a distinguished panel which included Prof Kenneth Mak, Director-General of Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Daph Gardner, Senior Consultant Endocrinologist at Singapore General Hospital, A/Prof David SP Tan, Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist at the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patient, Mr. Adrian Yap. The panel discussion, titled “Clinical Trials – Value Proposition from the Patient’s, Healthcare, and Industry Perspective,” was moderated by Adj A/Prof Danny Soon, CEO of the Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, Singapore, and Executive Director at SCRI. During the panel discussion, Hwee Tee highlighted that Novartis Singapore has conducted over 300 trials involving more than 2,800 patients since 2004. These trials have covered a range of innovative therapies, including Cell and Gene Therapy, and Radioligand Therapy. While other countries in the region are developing their capabilities, Singapore remains well-poised to be the center of excellence for clinical trials due to its established infrastructure and ecosystem. Hwee Tee suggested two ways to enhance Singapore’s position in this field: 1) harmonizing all hospital clusters to expedite clinical trials initiation period through digital innovation and conducting clinical trials in a centralized platform, and 2) re-assessing the costs of running clinical trials to maintain a competitive edge in the region. The panel discussion emphasized the vital role of clinical trials, resonating with Novartis commitment in developing innovative medicines and improving drug effectiveness. By integrating patient insights into our R&D process, we ensure that our medicines address outcomes that truly matter to patients. Congratulations to SCRI for a successful Clinical Trials Symposium 2024! It has provided a platform for experts to exchange valuable insights on the potential of clinical trials to improve health outcomes and transform tomorrow’s health. #NovartisSingapore #SCRIClinicalTrialsSymposium2024 #ClinicalTrials #ClinicalResearch

We recently hosted Novartis Incredibowl Day – a team bonding event specially organized to unite our associates together for a fun and memorable afternoon! In addition to enjoying arcade games and karaoke, associates were grouped into different teams, enabling them to forge deep connections and collaborate closely while competing for the top prizes of the day. The exhilarating competition among the 13 teams resulted in the ultimate triumph of two groups who earned the titles of Top Bowling Team and Top Darts Team! We also celebrated individual accomplishments by presenting awards to the top male and female bowlers, along with notable spotlight awards like ‘No Pin Intended’ Bowler, ‘Strike in Style’ Bowler, Most Potential for Improvement (Team), and Most Creative Team Photo. At Novartis, we are committed to fostering a positive work environment that prioritizes teamwork and nurtures the well-being of our associates. Events like Novartis Incredibowl Day not only serve the purpose of strengthening the existing bonds between our associates but also provide them with an opportunity to recharge and rejuvenate themselves, especially as we reached the midpoint of the year. A big thank you to the organizing committee and all associates who joined us at Novartis Incredibowl Day and made it a fantastic event! #NovartisSingapore #ONENovartis #TeamBonding #CompanyCulture

As a wrap up to the June school holidays, Novartis Singapore welcomed our associates’ families to our annual Kids@Work event, offering children a glimpse into their parents’ professional lives. This year’s edition also marked the first joint event for associates from both the Singapore office and the Tuas Manufacturing Site.   Meticulously planned and executed by Novartis associates from beginning to end, the event had a remarkable turnout of 70 families and 116 children! Alongside the well-loved carnival games and engaging DIY workshop, there were kid-friendly educational health talks on eye care, heart health and cancer. These talks aimed to raise awareness and instil a preventive health mindset in our children, empowering them to prioritize their well-being from an early age. Furthermore, Novartis associates and their families had the opportunity to explore the Tuas manufacturing site through lab tours and digital manufacturing showcases, providing a truly eye-opening experience.   Adding to the excitement, the delightful presence of the Old Chang Kee and Saybons food trucks was a big hit with the kids, as they satisfied their appetites with bites that left them wanting more.   Events like Kids@Work embody our commitment to cultivating a supportive and inclusive work environment that values and celebrates our associates and families. We look forward to creating more memorable and meaningful experiences that strengthen the bond between our associates, their families, and our organization.   #NovartisSingapore #ONENovartis #FamilyBonding #CompanyCulture

“Knowing that I make a difference in patients’ lives motivates me in my work each day.” – Mandy Yee, Sales Associate for the Innovative Medicines team. We are delighted to share that Mandy was awarded the prestigious CEO Field Award 2024! This award celebrates those who have not only delivered outstanding performance, but also consistently demonstrated agility, teamwork, and exemplary values and behaviors over the past three years. Out of 21,000 customer-facing associates, only 180 were chosen for this prestigious recognition. Celebrating her win at our Novartis Basel Campus in Switzerland, Mandy attributed her success to the unwavering support she received from the leadership team and colleagues. She noted that this support, combined with her determination to leave no stone unturned and deliver innovative solutions to patients, was pivotal in her achievements. At Novartis, we take immense pride in our associates’ dedication to delivering the best possible outcomes for the patients we serve. Together, we boldly strive to reach new heights, remove barriers, and better serve our patients and communities. Join us in celebrating Mandy for her well-deserved award win and for setting an exceptional example for everyone! #NovartisSingapore #CEOFieldAward #Inspired

Novartis Singapore recently hosted a site visit for 11 post-graduate doctors and 1 faculty staff from the National University of Singapore (NUS)’s Graduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine to share best practices on managing workplace hazards. This is part of the training by NUS in conjunction with the Ministry of Manpower for students before being certified as designated workplace doctors. With a comprehensive occupational health program at our biopharmaceutical manufacturing site, we were selected for the second year to host this visit. During the visit, we shared the fundamentals of biologics manufacturing and highlighted our ongoing initiatives to mitigate occupational health hazards on our sites. This stems from our commitment to ensure the utmost wellbeing of our associates, prioritize their physical and emotional safety, and empower them to speak up on any unsafe work practices. Employee safety is an integral aspect of an employer’s responsibility. At Novartis, we continuously focus on improving our control systems and verifying our operations to uphold the highest-level safety. We hope that through this site visit, best practices will be shared and amplified across the sector, contributing to Singapore's vision of becoming one of the safest and healthiest countries to work in by 2028 [1]. #NovartisSingapore #WorkplaceSafety #Inspired [1] - (2019) WSH 2028. Ministry of Manpower. Available at: https://lnkd.in/gCyEjFTd [Last accessed: June 3, 2024].

Spearheaded by the Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa (APMA) region, the #Unblocked APMA Challenge returns for another edition in 2024! Together with our APMA colleagues, the Singapore office launched the inaugural Unblocked APMA Challenge Fiesta which saw the participation of more than 80 associates. In addition to physical activities such as kick-boxing and dance classes, our associates also enjoyed heart-healthy bites and the opportunity to hear from Lim Kiat, senior nutritionist from the Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) on heart smart eating habits at the Fiesta. The Challenge is part of the #Unblocked Movement initiative co-created with health partners and Novartis to bring patients, their loved ones, healthcare professionals and healthcare systems together in a shared mission to “unblock” barriers to heart health. The month-long challenge aims to inspire our associates to prioritize their heart health through various physical activities and we applaud all associates for their dedication and enthusiasm! In Singapore, the first-place winner for the #Unblocked APMA Challenge is Team Active Apex! Despite their busy schedules, the members remained strongly dedicated to their shared goal and engaged in a myriad of activities including basketball, hiking, yoga and tennis. Kudos to Active Apex for making an effort to be active in their personal fitness pursuits while going the extra mile to constantly motivate one another. Beyond the Challenge, the team has even formed an informal climbing club as they continue staying healthy together. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year [1]. The work to staying active and keeping a healthy heart does not stop here. With an estimated 80% of all CVD deaths preventable [2], Novartis Singapore, is committed to transform the cardiovascular health landscape together with our healthcare ecosystem partners. Each of us have a role to play to unblock barriers to heart health. #NovartisSingapore #UnblockedAPMA #CVD #HeartHealth [1] - (2024) Cardiovascular diseases. World Health Organization. Available at: https://lnkd.in/gvkSDk6 [Last accessed: May 23, 2024]. [2] - (N.D.) CVD Prevention. World Heart Federation. Available at: https://lnkd.in/ej838ikr [Last accessed: May 24, 2024].