Novo Nordisk opens insulin plant in Russia
pharmafile | April 10, 2015 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | Novo Nordisk, Russia, diabetes, flexpen, insulin, kaluga, penfill
Denmark’s Novo Nordisk has opened a new manufacturing facility in Russia to produce more of its diabetes offerings in the country.
The diabetes specialist firm has cut the tape on a plant in Kaluga for formulation and filling of modern insulin for the treatment of the disease.
The production will cover both of its Penfill cartridges and FlexPen prefilled insulin injection pens for the Russian market, and the new facility is located in Technopark Grabtsevo in the Kaluga region.
“The manufacturing facility in Kaluga is a sign of our long-term commitment to people with diabetes in Russia, where close to 10 million people have the disease according to local studies. With our investment in local manufacturing, we ensure availability of highquality modern insulins to the people with diabetes in Russia who rely on our products every day,” says Lars Rebien Sørensen, chief executive of Novo Nordisk.
This is the first and only greenfield facility for the manufacturing of modern insulin in Russia the firms says, and along with meeting the required environmental targets – the construction of the new facility has so far created around 150 new jobs.
Novo, which has just had an obesity drug see EU approval, also has production sites in Denmark, Brazil, China, France and the US.
It just recently resubmitted its applications for two insulins to the FDA in the US, along with new interim safety data requested by the regulator.
Novo will be keen to secure a 2016 approval for two of the insulin products that it sees as competition to its main rival in the diabetic insulin market – Sanofi, which recently gained US and European approval for its new insulin, Toujeo (insulin glargine).
But back in the old USSR this new move follows another big pharma firm that recently set up a stall there – Abbott just completed its purchase of Russia-based Veropharm in a $305 million deal as it looks to firmly establish itself in the country’s growing market.
On the Novo news however, Kaluga region governor Anatoly Artamonov adds: “The opening of Novo Nordisk manufacturing facility in Kaluga is a sign of confidence in our region, as well as an important stage in the formation of a pharmaceutical cluster in Kaluga. I am convinced that the new facility will have a significant impact on improving the quality of life for people with diabetes in Kaluga as well as in the rest of Russia.”
Brett Wells
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