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03/27/2003
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| Lonza's production line for biopharmaceuticals on the basis of microbial fermentation will be operational by November 2003 |
| Lonza has already started its construction activities for its new biopharmaceuticals manufacturing plant at its Visp site (Switzerland). |
The new plant will house 2 segregated fermentation and down-stream-processing lines capable for the cGMP manufacture of biologics medicines based on microbial cell technologies. A 15'000 liter line will be operational by the first quarter of 2005, whereas the build-out of the smaller scale 1'000 liter line is one year ahead of schedule and will be ready for operation by November 2003. With an investment of over CHF 100 million this new biologics plant will create over 100 new jobs over the next 2 years.
"We are extremely pleased to assure our customers access our 1'000 liter microbial biologics plant by the end of this year already," says René Imwinkelried, Head of Lonza Biotec. "This underscores our commitment to strengthen our leadership position in the biotechnology custom manufacturing services. By quarter four of 2003 the expansion of our process research and development facilities will be completed as well."
Lonza Biotec is focused on microbial fermentation and is the leader in process development and custom manufacturing of therapeutic ingredients and intermediates based on its 20 years of experience. Lonza Biotec undertakes manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and nutrition industries. Lonza Biotec operates R&D and cGMP multi-product manufacturing facilities in Visp (Switzerland) and Kourim (Czech Republic).
Lonza is a Life Sciences driven company headquartered in Switzerland, with sales of CHF 2.54 billion in 2002 and operating 18 production and R&D facilities in 8 countries. It employs 6 200 people worldwide and is the leading custom manufacturer of active chemical ingredients, intermediates and biotechnology solutions to the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. It also offers organic intermediates for a wide range of applications and provides antimicrobial and associated products as well as polymer intermediates and compounds. For more information on Lonza please visit the company's website at www.lonza.com.
For further information please contact:
Walter Eschenmoser
Communications & Investor Relations
Tel +41 61 316 8363
Fax +41 61 361 8220
walter.eschenmoser@lonza.com
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