Novartis partners with Austrian government on integrated antibiotics manufacturing

Novartis generics and biosimilars division Sandoz have announced plans of a joint investment with the Austrian federal government that seeks to strengthen the long-term future of integrated antibiotics manufacturing in Europe.

According to Sandoz, it intends to invest more than €150 million over the next five years to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of its integrated antibiotic manufacturing operations at Kundl, developing and introducing manufacturing technology for both active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms (FDFs).

Under the joint plan, the Austrian federal government would contribute or coordinate public funding totaling approximately €50 million towards the total investment, as part of its efforts to increase European-based production of essential medicines. Sandoz and the Austrian government anticipate a formal closing of the agreement before the end of the year.

The government funding would primarily support new process technology to produce API for penicillin products at Kundl. Sandoz would commit to related penicillin API production in Europe for the next ten years.

Sandoz produces enough penicillin products at Kundl to potentially meet all current Europe-wide demand. Kundl is the Sandoz competence center for antibiotic FDFs and the focal point of its European antibiotics manufacturing network.

"This plan is a great example of government and the private sector working closely together to protect the long-term interests of patients in Europe and beyond," said Sandoz CEO Richard Saynor. "Antibiotics are the backbone of modern medicine and our Kundl facility in Austria is the hub and center of the last remaining integrated production chain for antibiotics in the western world. This joint investment will help to keep it that way."

Read the Sandoz statement