Lonza buys Novartis’ sterile production facility

Novartis is selling a clinical supply sterile manufacturing and fill-and-finish facility in Stein, Switzerland, to Lonza, who in turn will retain the staff at the facility and will manufacture the drug currently produced there for Novartis. The reason behind the sale is underutilised Novartis lines as the company continues to move into gene therapies, which require different manufacturing processes. Lonza said the facility has sufficient capacity for new clients, and can handle liquid and lyophilized dosage forms for up to 200-L bulk volumes for clinical supply and commercial launch.

Prof. Dr. Hanns-Christian Mahler, head of Drug Products Services at Lonza, 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.”