Novo Nordisk invests $73m to boost diabetes drug production
pharmafile | October 8, 2010 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |Â Â Novo Nordisk, diabetes, insulinÂ
Novo Nordisk has announced another major expansion of its manufacturing capacity for diabetes products, setting aside $73 million to expand a US facility in North Carolina that makes insulin delivery devices.
The first phase of the expansion of the site in Clayton will add 85 workers to the existing workforce of more than 420 employees and create 205 new jobs in total, according to Novo Nordisk.
Around 120 new jobs will be created at Nypro, a local plastics company that will make the parts for a new delivery device Novo Nordisk plans to produce at the plant that is currently under review by the FDA.
Jerzy Gruhn, president of the Danish drugmaker’s US subsidiary Novo Nordisk Inc, said: “As patients in the US continue to move from administering insulin with a conventional vial and syringe to using a pen device, Novo Nordisk will be prepared to meet growing market demand.”
The expansion will add two final assembly lines and two packing lines, while the company says it is also planning to undertake a refurbishment of the building.
The plant currently manufactures six of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes products, including Levemir FlexPen (insulin detemir injection).
Novo Nordisk said that “cost and productivity factors, including state and local incentives”, helped it choose Clayton. The company will receive funds under the state Job Development Investment Grant system, as well as a $400,000 One North Carolina Fund grant and potentially another $840,000 if it fulfils its employment and investment promises.
Novo Nordisk remains the biggest player in the diabetes sector with the franchise pulling in 21.6 billion Danish kroner in the first six months of 2010. However, its number one position in the market is being challenged by Sanofi-Aventis on the back of strong sales of its long-acting insulin product Lantus (insulin glargine).
The Danish drugmaker is fighting back via the introduction of additional products, including Victoza (liraglutide) which is currently being rolled out and insulin degludec which is in late-stage testing.
Phil Taylor
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