Novo Nordisk expands production in China
Novo Nordisk is undertaking a significant expansion of its production facilities in Tianjin, China. Plans include a new assembly plant for Novo Nordisk\'s NovoPen 3 insulin pen as well as an expansion of current packaging facilities for Penfill insulin cartridges and FlexPen prefilled insulin pens.
Novo Nordisk is undertaking a significant expansion of its production facilities in Tianjin, China. Plans include a new assembly plant for Novo Nordisk's NovoPen 3 insulin pen as well as an expansion of current packaging facilities for Penfill insulin cartridges and FlexPen prefilled insulin pens.
The new plant will be built on the company's existing 40,000m2 site in Tianjin, its primary production base in the Asia Pacific region, and will supply both domestic and export markets. The facility will be operational in 2006 and will create more than 100 new jobs in China.
As the new NovoPen 3 production plant in China becomes operational, existing NovoPen 3 production in Denmark will be phased out. The Danish plant will be re-equipped, and employees transferred to the production of NovoPen 4, a new insulin pen being developed by Novo Nordisk.
'Our expansion in China reflects Novo Nordisk's commitment to the Chinese market and our goal of being the leader in diabetes care in Asia,' said Lars Rebien Sorensen, president and ceo.
Novo Nordisk has had an affiliate in China since 1994. The headquarters and r&d centre are located in Beijing while the production plant is located in Tianjin. Currently, Novo Nordisk employs more than 570 people in China.
The r&d centre, established in 2002, has evolved into a centre of excellence in molecular biology, protein chemistry and cell biology. It is the first r&d centre established in China by an international pharmaceutical company. In July this year the centre moved to new, larger premises in Zhongguancun Life Science Park in Beijing. The move will allow the centre to grow from its current 20 employees to about 60 over the next few years.