Novartis announces major investment in Poland
Swiss company Novartis is to invest €70m in a new generics production and logistics facility in Strykow, Poland. The plant, which is expected to create 150 new jobs, will be operated by Slovenia generics leader Lek, a new Sandoz company. Sandoz in turn is a Novartis company that develops, manufactures and markets generic medicines as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnological active ingredients. The 25,000m2 complex will include an administration building, laboratories, production lines and storage centres.
The facility will focus initially on the production of oral solid formulations of generic medicines, including Ketonal, Amlopin, Lovastatinum and Altacet, and is expected to reach a production capacity of 1.5bn tablets and capsules in the first year. Export production is estimated at 10% in the first year of operation, rising to 20% thereafter.
'Today, we build on our 100 year presence in Poland with the opening of a major new facility. This better positions our generics business to participate in the exciting growth opportunities promised by the expansion of the European single market,' said Paul Choffat, ceo of Novartis Consumer Health.
In addition to the Strykow site, Novartis operates pharmaceutical and consumer health production sites in Rzeszow, Gorzow Wielkopolski and Pruszkow, and employs more than 1,500 people in Poland.