Roche Opens New Biotechnology Production Center in Switzerland

Roche (Basel, Switzerland, www.roche.com) has opened its new biotechnology production center in Basel. The facility will manufacture the cancer drug Avastin. In July, Roche will inaugurate a second new facility in Penzberg, Germany. These two sites will contribute significantly to the group with supplies of Avastin and Herceptin for patients with cancer.

“After completing construction in just two years, we can now begin preparing for regulatory approval and launch of commercial production of Avastin from this site,” said Matthias M. Baltisberger, Basel site head, at the inauguration ceremony. “Moreover, the need for highly skilled employees to staff the facility has resulted in the creation of over 170 new jobs. The new building is part of a site development scheme that includes consolidating all production facilities on the northern sector of the site.”

Roche is currently preparing the Basel biotech facility for qualification and certification by the regulatory authorities. Delivery of the first batch of Avastin from Basel is scheduled for 2009. Until the qualification and certification processes are complete, patients will continue to be supplied with Avastin from Genentech’s manufacturing facilities.