Novartis to invest in the expansion of its operations in Prevalje
- Novartis’ decision is based on the high quality of products, processes and expertise of the Prevalje associates as well as the continuing growth of demand in recent years.
- The investment will enable further development of the site and employment.
- If everything goes according to plan, the first new production lines will begin operation in 2019.
Novartis has confirmed the expansion of the production of broad-spectrum antibiotic at the Prevalje Penicillin Site. The investment will significantly increase the existing capacity and will be ongoing over several years. It will facilitate the expansion of the facility on the land bought in the immediate vicinity last year (from Koratur company). If the investment proceeds as planned, the first production lines will start in 2019 after which new lines will be gradually phased by 2023.
Novartis, one of the biggest investors in Slovenia, invested more than 30 million Euros in development and modernisation of facilities in Prevalje over the last ten years. The new investment is based on the existing high quality of processes and products as well as the knowledge and experience that distinguish this Novartis site in Carinthia.
As highlighted by Zlatko Ajd, Head of Penicillin Products Production Prevalje: ''Our products are used for treating patients in 60 markets. In recent years, the demand has been continuously growing and in order to meet this demand, we have recently introduced a number of process improvements. We are pleased that Novartis has decided to invest, as the expansion of the current capacity will facilitate further development of the site and employment.''
Lek is already among the largest and stable employers in the municipality of Prevalje and in Carinthia. At the end of the year, the unit had 246 employees or 9% more than in the previous year. The expansion of Lek operations at the Prevalje site is also consistent with the development strategy in the region. It pursues the development of high-quality jobs with higher added value, with an emphasis on in-house knowledge, innovation, health, safety and environmentally responsible behavior.
Among key aspects that have also contributed to Novartis’ decision to expand business operations at Prevalje are the existing high-quality results in the field of environmental protection, health and safety. They are prerequisite for the acquisition of Novartis’ investments. Lek will continue to conform to legal as well as the strict Novartis’ standards in these areas.
Lek, a Sandoz company, is one of the key pillars of the second-largest generic pharmaceutical company globally. Its role within Sandoz is to act as: a leading global development center for technologically demanding products and technologies; a key global manufacturing center for active pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines; a competence center for the development of vertically integrated products; a Sandoz competence center in the field of development and manufacturing of biosimilar active ingredients and products; a supply center for the markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), South East Europe (SEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and is responsible for marketing and sales of Sandoz products on the Slovenian market. For further information, please visit www.lek.si.
Sandoz is a global leader in generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals. As a division of the Novartis Group, our purpose is to discover new ways to improve and extend people’s lives. We contribute to society’s ability to support growing healthcare needs by pioneering novel approaches to help people around the world access high-quality medicine. Our portfolio of approximately 1000 molecules, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2015 sales of USD 10.1 billion. In 2015, our products reached more than 500 million patients and we aspire to reach one billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area.
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For further details visit www.sandoz.com/makingaccesshappen
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2016, the Group achieved net sales of USD 48.5 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion (USD 8.4 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
This press release contains statements and conclusions based on projections of Lek’s future business operations. These estimates are derived from the best information currently available. In case these forecasts prove unreliable, the actual results could prove different from those projected.
For additional information contact:
Katarina Klemenc
Corporate Communications
Lek Pharmaceuticals d. d.
Phone: +386 1 580 22 43
Fax: +386 1 580 24 32
katarina.klemenc@sandoz.com
