Lonza Announces Acquisition of Novartis Drug Product Facility

Lonza Pharma & Biotech announced a binding contractual commitment for the purchase of a sterile drug product fill and finish facility from Novartis on July 1, 2019. The facility, located in Stein, Switzerland, will be the first sterile product finish and fill facility in Lonza’s network for clinical supply and commercial launch.  

The cGMP-approved facility, which became operational in 2009, has been used for sterile clinical drug product manufacture; it comes equipped with classified cleanroom areas, office, lab, utilities, and storage space. According to a press statement, Lonza will continue to produce drug products for Novartis while providing additional capacity for pharma and biotech customers for development, testing, and manufacturing for parenteral medicines. The facility can produce liquid and lyophilized dosage forms in up to 200-L volumes.

“The intended acquisition of the sterile drug product fill and finish facility in Stein will be the latest phase in our step-wise expansion of parenteral drug product services,” said Karen Fallen, head of mammalian and microbial development and manufacturing for Lonza in the press statement.“Combined with our development services, this manufacturing facility will provide our customers with shorter timelines to the clinic and best-in-class quality for parenteral product development through commercialization.”

The commitment comes after Lonza met a demand from the market after introducing its drug product development services in 2016. 

“Launched just three years ago with a core team of experts, Lonza DPS has since expanded in line with customer demand,” said Hanns-Christian Mahler, head of drug products services for Lonza in the statement. “Upon closing, the new manufacturing facility in Stein will be our first sterile drug product fill and finish facility and will work in close synergy with our existing facility in the Stücki Park in Basel. We will continue to provide best-in-class development and commercialization options for our customers, using our scientific approach together with our regulatory and industrial experience and to deliver with the highest quality standards.” 

Source: Lonza Pharma & Biotech