Vienna/Schachtenau (OTS) –
- CC2Plus cell culture facility completed with ceremonial opening after around two years of construction
- The second component CC2Plus complements the CC2 cell culture facility, which will go into operation in 2022, with a total investment of EUR 250 million
- The system is therefore the fastest cell culture system in the Novartis network and sets new standards in minimizing cycle times
- Increase fermentation volume by almost 170%, resulting in an output of 13.9 tons of pure antibody protein with an optimized process
- Investment strengthens the Tyrolean Kundl/Schachtenau campus as a leading biotech location
Europe and contributes to accelerating the continuous supply of biopharmaceuticals from Austria - Economics Minister Martin Kocher and State Health Councilor Cornelia Hagele underlined the importance of the location at the opening
After only around two years of construction, the second component of the CC2 cell culture facility was ceremoniously opened today at Novartis Austria in Schaftenau/Tyrol. CC2Plus completes the CC2 facility, which was put into operation in 2022, with a total investment of EUR 250 million. This is the first part of Novartis Austria’s EUR 500 million investment package, which was announced in February. The cell culture facility has a total area of 13,500 m². The fermentation volume was increased by 1,125,000 liters/year to around 1,800,000 liters/year. This corresponds to an increase of almost 170%. In addition, thanks to precisely coordinated, parallel production processes, CC2/CC2Plus is now the fastest cell culture system in the Novartis network. It sets new standards in minimizing cycle times. It produces monoclonal antibodies that are used in particular in the treatment of autoimmune or rheumatic diseases as well as cancer. The qualification, i.e. acceptance of all systems, will be completed by autumn 2024.
“Novartis has fundamentally repositioned itself over the past year and is now focusing entirely on innovative medicines,” said Kuntal Baveja, Country President Novartis, at the opening. “We particularly focus on biopharmaceuticals because they open up new possibilities in medicine where conventional medications and therapies reach their limits. They offer new treatment options for a variety of oncological, cardiovascular and immunological diseases.”
Medicines “Made in Austria” – two thirds for the world market
„However, the complex biological active ingredients require a lot of experience and know-how in production, which we have been able to build up over decades. Our Kundl and Schaftenau locations are among the most innovative Novartis production sites in Europe and enable us to supply patients in Austria, Europe and the world with innovative medicines ‘Made in Austria’. We already produce around a third for Europe and two thirds for the global market
“, so Baveja. „That’s why I’m proud to set another milestone in the care of patients with the commissioning of CC2Plus and thus do justice to our announcement to invest EUR 500 million in Tyrol by 2025.
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“CC2Plus is not just an expansion of our production capacities – it is another technological leap forward,” emphasizes Roland Gander, Global Head Large Molecules, Cell & Gene Therapies, Novartis Operations. “This allows us to produce urgently needed biopharmaceuticals in large quantities and at the highest possible speed. In this way, we are strengthening our role as a competence center for modern cell culture technology and are already building the bridge to the new facility in Kundl, which is currently being built with an investment volume of EUR 250 million and is scheduled to be completed in autumn 2025.
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Efficient construction
The construction of CC2Plus had already been taken into account in the planning of the first component CC2, which meant that an almost seamless connection to the already running system could be achieved and production hardly had to be interrupted. “The construction phase also ran extremely efficiently,” emphasizes Gander. “The good collaboration with AGES also contributed to the project being implemented so quickly.”
In total, CC2/CC2Plus created 150 additional jobs in production, quality and supporting functions.
Kocher: Strengthening security of supply with biopharmaceuticals
„As an innovative industrial and business location, Austria in the heart of Europe offers very good conditions for entrepreneurial success. The new investment from Novartis confirms this. I am pleased that we can open a state-of-the-art cell culture facility in Schaftenau today. This strengthens the life sciences landscape, which the federal government is pushing for economic policy as one of several key industries, and at the same time contributes to strengthening the security of supply with biopharmaceuticals from Austria
“, said Labor and Economics Minister Martin Kocher.
Hagele: Tyrol is an attractive location for life sciences
„Tyrol has been successfully positioning itself as an attractive location for life sciences for many years, which is a particular concern of mine
says Cornelia Hagele, Tyrolean State Councilor for Health, Science and Research. “And As one of the largest employers and sources of inspiration, Novartis is an important part of this – not least through the Technology Campus Tirol with various companies from the life sciences sector that have settled here.
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The competitiveness of the pharmaceutical location is at stake
“With these investments, we are helping to strengthen Austria as a pharmaceutical location,” emphasizes Novartis Country President Baveja. “But I appeal to all political decision-makers to keep an eye on the environment for the research-based pharmaceutical industry. Europe is already at risk of losing ground to the US, China and India, which have increased R&D spending in recent years. EU pharmaceutical legislation that inhibits investment in R&D, for example by restricting patent protection, would therefore be counterproductive.”
Roland Gander also emphasizes the importance of competitiveness: “Investment projects like the ones we are currently implementing in Tyrol need attractive and stable framework conditions. Only then can Austria compete with other countries as a location. Therefore, issues such as capping the investment allowance or high energy costs should be urgently addressed.”
Photos and video material can be found at this link: Novartis opens CC2Plus
Questions & Contact:
Maj. Sabine Boschetto
Country Communications & Engagement Head
Novartis Austria
+43 664 827 8610
sabine.boschetto@novartis.com