BASEL, SWITZERLAND: Lonza Pharma & Biotech has announced its entry into a binding contractual commitment for the purchase of a sterile drug product fill & finish facility from Novartis.
The closing is expected to take place within the coming months. The new facility, in Stein(CH) will enable Lonza Pharma & Biotech to build on existing parenteral drug product development and testing capabilities and offer an end-to-end service to its customers for clinical supply and launch.
It will be the first sterile drug product fill and finish facility in Lonza’s network. The sterile, multi-product facility currently serves as the Novartis Center of Excellence for sterile clinical (phases 1 to 3) drug product manufacture.
Following closing, Lonza will produce drug product at the facility for Novartis as well as providing capacity for additional customers.
Karen Fallen, Head of Mammalian and Microbial Development and Manufacturing, Lonza Pharma & Biotech said: “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. 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.”
Hanns-Christian Mahler, Head of Drug Products Services, Lonza Pharma & Biotech said: “Launched just three years ago with a core team of experts, Lonza DPS has since expanded in line with customer demand. 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”.