Cornerstone laid for new Pharmaceutical Development sterile pilot plant at Novartis site in Stein
At the Novartis site in Stein, company officials, project participants and other guests attended a cornerstone-laying ceremony for the new Pharmaceutical Development sterile pilot plant. The planned multistory building, occupying an area of around 3500 m2, will house facilities for the production of sterile dosage forms for clinical trials, as well as laboratories and offices. The new plant will conform to the latest national and international pharmaceutical industry standards.
Speaking at the event, Michael Plüss, Head of Novartis Switzerland, commented: "Our investment of over CHF 150 million indicates that the Basel region will remain the most important location for Novartis in the future. The conditions for the pharmaceutical industry are ideal here, and we see our excellent partnership with the local authorities as a hugely important positive point."
The new plant is scheduled for completion in 2008. To ensure that supplies of the required sterile dosage forms continue uninterrupted, operations will be relocated as the new equipment is brought on stream in several stages between 2007 and 2008. During this period, between 30 and 40 people will start working at the new plant in Stein.
Designed as a multifunctional production center, the new plant will make it possible for more - and more complex - dosage forms to be manufactured than in the past. As Armin Meinzer, Head of Technical R&D, explained: "Innovative active substances are becoming increasingly important in our pipeline, thanks not only to our own compounds but also to new collaborative ventures with biotech companies; accordingly, we need to expand our capacity and flexibility for the production of sterile dosage forms for clinical trials." Altogether, the new plant will permit the manufacture of twice as many sterile products as current facilities.
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