Novo Nordisk is investing close to 1 billion Danish kroner (134 million euros) in a new factory in Kalundborg, Denmark, for the production of biopharmaceuticals such as haemophilia medicine, growth hormone and other current and future pharmaceuticals. The factory is expected to create 120–150 new jobs in Kalundborg over the next three years. The plans for the new factory have been underway since June of last year and were finally approved last week. Groundbreaking for the new factory will take place on 22 August.
"We need to expand our production capacity to meet the future demand for our existing products, but also to be ready to produce future haemophilia products that are in the pipeline," said Per Valstorp, senior vice president, Product Supply, Novo Nordisk.
The new factory will cover formulation, freeze-drying, filling and packaging of a range of Novo Nordisk's biopharmaceuticals, including NovoSeven® haemophilia medicine, Norditropin® growth hormone and the glucagon product GlucaGen®.
"We already have similar production in Gentofte, Denmark, and have built up great expertise in the production of biopharmaceuticals in Denmark. We were therefore never in doubt that this new factory should be placed in Denmark," said Per Valstorp.
The packaging facility is expected to be operational in 2013, while the other facilities, which require a prolonged running-in period, are expected to be approved and in operation in 2015.
Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 88 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy.