AstraZeneca to set up $285-mn biologics facility in Sweden

AstraZeneca has announced its plans to invest approximately $285 million in a new high-tech facility for manufacturing of biological medicines in Sodertalje, Sweden. It is anticipated that the new facility, which will focus on filling and packaging of protein therapeutics, will supply medicines for clinical trial programmes of AstraZeneca and MedImmune, the company’s global biologics research and development arm, from the end of 2018, and will deliver finished products for commercial use once fully operational by 2019.
 
Sodertalje is currently home to AstraZeneca’s largest global tablets and capsules manufacturing facility and is also a launch platform site for the company, with specialist capabilities on-site that allow large-scale production of new medicines, working closely with the research and development organisation. By locating the new manufacturing plant in Sodertalje, the company will combine its expertise in biologics with the well-established culture of operational excellence that exists within the Sweden Operations unit.
 
The planned investment will, subject to relevant approvals by the local authorities, create between 150 and 250 highly skilled new roles at AstraZeneca by 2019.
 
The $285 million planned investment is the first phase of a potential three-part programme to expand AstraZeneca’s biologics manufacturing capabilities. Further investment decisions are expected to be made in the coming years.
 
The new manufacturing facility in Sweden will support the progression of drug candidates across the main therapy areas and be aligned with investments being made in the current biologics manufacturing centers, such as the expansion in Frederick, Maryland, announced in November.