The multistory building, occupying an area of around 3,500 square metres, will house production facilities, laboratories and offices, and marks an investment by Novartis of CHF 150 million (€98m)
Designed as a multifunctional production centre, the new plant will make it possible for more - and more complex - dosage forms to be manufactured than in the past, according to Armin Meinzer, head of technical R&D at Novartis.
"Innovative active substances are becoming increasingly important in our pipeline, thanks not only to our own compounds but also to new collaborative ventures with biotech companies; accordingly, we need to expand our capacity and flexibility for the production of sterile dosage forms for clinical trials," he said.
The Stein facility will permit the manufacture of twice as many sterile products as current facilities, according to Novartis.
Meanwhile, the pilot plant's proximity to Novartis existing pharmaceutical production sterile facility in Stein should improve communications between development teams and those tasked with production. Eduardo von Achenbach, Novartis' head of pharmaceutical production in Switzerland, pointed out that Stein is "increasingly evolving from a production-only location into a more diverse site. "
The new plant is scheduled for completion in 2008. To ensure that supplies of the required sterile dosage forms continue uninterrupted, operations will be relocated as the new equipment is brought on stream in several stages between 2007 and 2008. During this period, between 30 and 40 people will start working at the new plant.