On 14th November 2008, Sandoz opened a new, fully integrated 13 000 L production line for innovative, cell culture derived biopharmaceuticals and antibodies in Schaftenau, Austria.

The new line is an extension to an existing cell culture facility, which has been in operation since 2004.

The plant has a highly flexible, modular design and comprises one 100 L line utilized for development and technology transfer, one production line with a capacity of 3 000 L and - now - two independent 13 000 L lines. The fermentation units are operated in fed batch mode and are linked to fully equipped, separated downstream processing lines. All facilities are designed as multipurpose plants, thus enabling maximum flexibility in capacity utilization. The facilities have been designed in close contact with regulatory authorities and meet the latest cGMP requirements.

The investment emphasizes the strategic importance of biopharmaceutical products within Sandoz and Novartis, and will further strengthen the position of Sandoz as an internationally acknowledged cooperation partner in recombinant manufacturing.

Sandoz Biopharmaceuticals is one of two stand-alone global business units within the Sandoz Group. Sandoz has long been a biotechnological competence center within parent company Novartis, and has decades of experience in the development and production of biopharmaceutical products and active substances. It is also playing a pioneer role in the emerging market for biopharmaceuticals approved by the new biosimilar regulatory pathway.