To align its production network with its strategy and new technologies, Novartis unveiled planned investments with a focus on Austria. To Novartis’ production capacities with these projects, two new cell culture facilities are being built at the long-standing Tyrolean locations in Kundl and Schaftenau. €250 million will be invested in a facility in Kundl, which is scheduled to be completed by 2025 and will create 180 jobs in the areas of production, quality, and support. In Schaftenau, the already planned investment of another €250 million with 165 additional jobs in production, quality, and supporting functions will be completed this summer.

“Innovative biopharmaceuticals open up new possibilities in medicine where classic medications and therapies reach their limits. They offer new therapeutic options for a variety of oncological, cardiovascular, and immunological diseases,” said Steffen Lang, president, Novartis Operations. “However, the complex biological active ingredients require a lot of experience and know-how to produce, and we are proud that we have been able to build up this knowledge over decades. Our Kundl and Schaftenau sites are among Novartis’ innovative production sites throughout Europe. As one of the leading Austrian pharmaceutical companies, we are very well positioned to further strengthen our production capacities and to continue to provide patients in Austria, Europe, and around the world with innovative medicines ‘Made in Austria.’”

Long tradition in biotechnology
Novartis has been producing biopharmaceuticals in Austria at the Competence Center for Cell Cultures in Schaftenau since 2004. With a cell cultivation volume of 1.8 million liters/year, this new investment creates a production facility with the highest output and ensures synergies with the existing facilities in the areas of production, quality, infrastructure, and support services. It is currently in the qualification phase and will go into operation in summer 2024.

Building on existing know-how
The production area in Kundl, which went into operation in 1979, has unique biopharmaceutical production know-how within the Novartis network to produce medicines that use microbial processes. In the future, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), biospecific antibodies and other cell culture products will also be produced in a highly automated system. With up to 150 batches per year, the new system will significantly expand the existing production capacities based on microbial processes.

All production steps in the new, multifunctional cell culture facility are carried out by experienced personnel in a fully cGMP 1 compliant environment. In line with the sustainability goals, an innovative production technology is being used on an industrial scale for the first time. Overall, the new cell culture system uses 40% less heat energy and 25% less electricity. The investments at Novartis Kundl are made in partnership with the Austrian government and the state of Tyrol and are supported by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Economic Affairs and the state of Tyrol with over €5 million.