Singzyme, a Singapore-based biotech startup pioneering next-generation bioconjugation solutions, has been named the winner of the 2025 Golden Ticket Programme in Singapore.
The award is part of a joint programme by Amgen, a U.S.-based leader in biologic medicines and NSG BioLabs, Singapore’s leading provider of biotechnology co-working laboratories and offices.
Now in its fourth year, the programme supports promising biotech startups by providing infrastructure, mentorship, and resources to advance scientific progress and talent development in accelerating the development of new therapies. As this year’s awardee, Singzyme will receive a one-year residency at NSG BioLabs, along with access to certified BSL-2 lab facilities and networking opportunities through Amgen’s community of scientific and business leaders.
Singzyme was selected from six finalists following an interactive pitch session reviewed by Amgen’s internal scientific committee. The startup stood out for its proprietary peptide asparaginyl ligase (PAL) platform, a novel site-specific conjugation technology that addresses key challenges in the manufacturing of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other complex biologics. The platform has the potential to enable safer, more precise, and efficient production of next-generation targeted therapies.
“Singzyme’s novel platform reflects the strong scientific thinking and innovation emerging from Singapore’s biotech sector,” said Alan Russell, vice president for research biologics at Amgen.
“It’s encouraging to see creative approaches to longstanding challenges in bioconjugation, and we’re pleased to be part of an initiative that helps spotlight and connect promising science with broader networks in the industry that aligns with Amgen’s mission to deliver impactful therapies to serve patients.”
Daphne Teo, CEO and founder of NSG BioLabs, said: “The Golden Ticket Programme provides a valuable stepping stone for biotech startups at critical stages of their journey. As Singapore’s life sciences community continues to expand, it’s exciting to support companies like Singzyme as they bring their ideas to life and move closer to the clinic in Singapore’s growing vibrant biotech industry.”
Abbas Sahili, chief technology officer, inventor and founding team member of Singzyme, said: “This award validates the transformative potential of Singzyme’s peptide ligation technology to enable the next generation of precision medicines. The Golden Ticket is a significant recognition of our PAL platform’s ability to address critical unmet needs in biologics development – not only in oncology, but across diverse modalities and disease areas.”
Wee Kiat Tan, CEO of Singzyme, said: “With this support, we are committed to advancing our platform toward clinical applications in oncology and beyond. Through this collaboration, we will continue to strengthen our capabilities and accelerate the delivery of impactful therapies to patients worldwide.”
Previous Golden Ticket recipients in Singapore include Albatroz Therapeutics, VerImmune, and PairX Bio. These companies have leveraged the programme’s access and visibility to further their research, raise funding, and expand partnerships. Albatroz secured $3m in seed funding to advance its drug development programmes, while VerImmune’s recent closure of the first half of its Pre-Series A round reflects strong confidence in its platform and trajectory.
“We are growing Singapore’s biotech leadership via three key drivers – access to capital, a strong talent pool, and strategic partnerships,” said Chen Pengfei, vice president for healthcare of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
“Beyond a strong scientific community, a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem is critical to bringing innovations to market. We hope to forge more collaborations with key stakeholders including academic and biotech companies, to unlock greater growth opportunities from Singapore.”
Jim Cornall is editor of Deeptech Digest and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.
