American pharmaceutical giant Amgen officially opened its $200 million biomanufacturing facility in Tuas on Thursday.

The new 120,000 sq ft plant will produce a drug substance used in the treatment of osteoporosis and bone-related events in cancer patients.

The company intends to continue building at the Tuas site and will soon break ground on second facility.

It has already hired more than 70 local employees, with plans to increase staff count to 200 in the coming years.

The plant, which was constructed in just 15 months, is Amgen's first major manufacturing investment in Asia.

It is also smaller and expected to be more productive than conventional facilities.

Its modular design can be replicated in subsequent facilities anywhere in the world.

Singapore is now home to nine commercial-scale biologics manufacturing facilities, including Amgen's.

The industry has created over 6,000 jobs, more than 80 per cent of which are held by locals, said Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang at Thursday's opening ceremony.