UPDATE
Manufacturing round-up: new facilities in India
Novartis has backtracked on its decision to close its OTC (over-the-counter) drug manufacturing plant in Nyon, Switzerland.
The company, who first announced it would shut the facility in October, now expects to spend $42m ($41.8m) over the next four years to bring the plant up to scratch.
Extra funding for has been taken from a planned pay rise for the 320 workers, some of whom will work an extra two and a half hours per week for no additional wages.
The firm has also received support from the local authorities, who will provide a “cantonal tax relief over a limited period”.
Aptar has extended its presence in India after opening a new plant in Mumbai.
The factory houses an ISO 7 cleanroom which will mainly be used to produce the DF30 metering valve platform for pressurized metered-dose inhalers and on spray pump assembly.
A spokesperson for the aerosol, spray and dispensing systems specialists said the facility will be key in providing products requested by its Indian customers with “outstanding responsiveness”.
Aptar Pharma Asia president Marc Prieur said that, coupled with the launch of a manufacturing site in Suzhou in China, the move puts the firm one step closer to reaching its goal of serving Indian customers from within Asia.
Granules and Omnichem have announced that work on their new manufacturing facility in Visakhapatnam, India, is expected to begin on February 2.
The plant, a $30 million joint-venture between Indian-based Granules and Belgian Omnichem, is expected to be completed by the end of FY13.
It will target production for oncology, CNS (central nervous system) and cardiovascular drugs – a first for Granules’ portfolio offering.
"This 50:50 joint venture on high value low volume model will also open opportunity for us in formulations," A. Bhaskar Krishna, CEO, Granules told the Economic Times.
