Eli Lilly and Novast begin manufacturing facility expansion in Nantong, China

Published: 5-Mar-2014

Will be completed by the end of 2015 and create 350 jobs


Eli Lilly and Chinese pharmaceutical company Novast Laboratories have begun a US$60–$70m expansion of manufacturing and development facility capacities in Nantong, Jiangsu, China.

The state-of-the-art facility will be located on a 22-acre campus located inside the Free Trade Zone of the Nantong Economic Technology Development Area (NETDA). It will be built using a quality by design approach, designed by leading engineering consultants.

'This day marks a new chapter for Novast as we are transitioning from commercialising quality prescription products in the US to focusing on catering the same to the China domestic needs,' said Dr Zhang, President and CEO of Novast Holdings.

Alfonso Zulueta, Vice President and President of Emerging Markets, Eli Lilly and Company, added: 'We are delighted to see the facility expansion of Novast under the strategic partnership of Lilly-Novast on brand-generic medicine. In Lilly's emerging markets business, we are focused on providing patients with innovative medicines from our own pipeline, as well as select Lilly-branded generic medicines that meet Lilly Global Quality Standards. The additional manufacturing capabilities provided by Novast will allow us better to deliver on that strategy.'

The expansion will include a 260,000ft2 manufacturing facility for the production of sustained release and containment solid oral dosage prescription pharmaceuticals with an annual additional capacity of more than 2.2 billion units. The construction should be completed by the end of 2015.

When fully operational the facility will create more than 350 skilled jobs.

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