Lonza to acquire site from Novartis as it continues parenteral expansion

Biotechnology company Lonza has announced it is to purchase a sterile drug product fill & finish facility from major pharma player Novartis.

Lonza Pharma & Biotech will use the facility in Stein Switzerland to expand upon its existing parenteral drug product development and testing capabilities. It will also offer an end-to-end service to its customers for clinical supply and launch.

Lonza is expected to retain the experienced team currently working at the facility when it closes the deal in the upcoming months.

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 commercialisation options for our customers, using our scientific approach together with our regulatory and industrial experience and to deliver with the highest quality standards.”

The purchase is the latest move from Lonza as it expands upon its parenteral drug product services. Last year, Lonza expanded the capacity and capabilities of its drug product services at its Stücki Science Park facility in Basel Switzerland.

Karen Fallen, head of Mammalian and Microbial Development and Manufacturing, Lonza Pharma & Biotech added: “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 commercialisation.”