AstraZeneca to create new biologics manufacturing site in Sweden

AstraZeneca has announced plans to develop a new high-tech facility for the production of biological medicines in Sodertalje, Sweden.

Around $285 million (183.56 million pounds) will be spent on the creation of the site, which will be used for filling and packaging protein therapeutics, as well as to supply medicines for AstraZeneca and MedImmune clinical trial programmes.

It will become fully operational in 2019 and is expected to create between 150 and 250 highly-skilled roles.

This represents the first phase of a potential three-part programme to expand AstraZeneca's biologics manufacturing capabilities and will build on its existing presence in Sodertalje, which is currently home to the firm's largest global tablets and capsules manufacturing facility.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of AstraZeneca, said: "This is a strategically important investment for AstraZeneca to support the accelerating development of biotech medicines, which now make up around half of our pipeline."

The firm is also currently pushing ahead with plans to create a global research and development centre and corporate headquarters in Cambridge.