17.03.2023 • NewsSandozNovartisdrugmaker

Sandoz Builds Biologics Plant in Slovenia

Sandoz, the generics and biosimilars arm of Swiss drugmaker Novartis, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a biologics production plant in Lendava, Slovenia.

The company expects to invest at least $400 million in the project, which is intended to drive future growth in its global biosimilars portfolio. Sandoz said the project represents one of the largest-ever international private-sector investments in the country.

“This state-of-the-art site will be a major new jewel in the Sandoz crown, enabling us to meet growing demand for our current and future biosimilars in the mid- to long term,” said Glenn Gerecke, global head of technical operations. “The location offers us a strong combination of political stability, proximity to our existing European-based production and commercial operations, and competitive costs.”

© Shutterstock
© Shutterstock

Work on the new plant is set to start this year, with full operations provisionally planned for late 2026.

Last November, Sandoz announced it would invest an additional €50 million in expanding its European manufacturing capacity for finished dosage-form penicillins. The additional investment followed plans disclosed in May 2021 to invest more than €100 million in new manufacturing technology for producing oral amoxicillin API at its site in Kundl, Austria.

Sandoz also announced in 2021 that it was spending a further €50 million on sterile API production at Palafolls, Spain. To date, the company’s investments in its European antibiotics network total €250 million. Anti-infectives (primarily antibiotics) is Sandoz’ second-largest business after biopharmaceuticals.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist

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