Boehringer Ingelheim to create new biopharmaceutical production site in Vienna

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced that it will be establishing a new large-scale biopharmaceutical production facility at its existing site in Vienna.

The new plant will be used to produce active ingredients manufactured using cell cultures, with around 500 million euros (369.15 million pounds) to be spent on the undertaking. More than 400 new jobs are expected to be created.

Operations will commence in 2021, thereby helping the company to strengthen its international biopharmaceutical network and enhance its leading position in the market.

The firm's Biberach site in Vienna already houses two large-scale facilities for the market launch and cell culture-based manufacture of biopharmaceuticals, which have been operating successfully for many years.

Dr Wolfgang Baiker, Boehringer Ingelheim's board member responsible for biopharmaceuticals and operations, said: "Our own promising biopharmaceutical development projects and the heavy market demand for contract manufacturing were the basis for our decision to invest long-term in our biopharmaceuticals activities to this extent."

This comes after the company agreed to exchange its consumer healthcare division for Sanofi's animal health business Merial earlier this month.