Lek, a Novartis company, opens the first fully automated analytical laboratory, the largest of its kind within Novartis

  • With a one million Euros worth investment in the Development Center Slovenia in Ljubljana, Novartis continues to invest in Slovenia.
  • The new laboratory is designed for a fully automated preparation and analysis of samples of finished products and is the largest lab of its kind within Novartis. 
  • Over the last four years, the Development Center Slovenia has developed and launched more than 100 new products for the most important global markets. 
9. 12. 2019

On the occasion of the visit by Subodh Deshmukh, Global Head of Product Development at Sandoz, a part of which is also the Development Center in Ljubljana, the first fully automated and analytical laboratory was inaugurated. The new lab, the largest of its kind within the entire Novartis, is designed for a fully automated preparation and analysis of samples of finished products. With this one million Euros worth investment in the development center, Novartis continues to invest in Slovenia.

The fully automated analytical laboratory with five robotic devices represents an important step in the development of Novartis towards increased digitisation and automation, bringing numerous advantages also in development processes. »We are proud that the large steps forward in this development field are made here, in Slovenia. By automating some of the steps, we can accelerate development processes and reduce cost, which is essential in the generic pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, we are further increasing the compliance with prescribed procedures, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring better safety of our associates,« said Bojan Mitrović, Head of Analytical Development at the Development Center Slovenia, adding that this new way of working will allow the employees to better focus on the implementation of processes with higher added value.  

The Development Center Slovenia is a leading center for the development of technologically demanding products at Sandoz, the generic part of Novartis, carrying out a quarter of all global Sandoz development projects. Over the last four years, the Development Center Slovenia has developed and launched more than 100 new products, predominantly medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, allergy treatment and symptom relief, urology and gastrointestinal disorders, neurological diseases, pain management therapies and anti-infectives. In recent years, the investment in the Development Center Slovenia has increased significantly. From 2015 to date, the number of employees has increased by approximately 20 percent. Today, the development center employs more than 330 people, about one third of whom hold a doctorate in science.  

In early September, the Development Center Slovenia opened new development laboratories, which enable also the development of complex solid and sterile dosage forms for cancer treatment. With this new investment in the Development Center, Novartis continues to invest in Slovenia. Since 2003, the company has invested more than EUR 2.3 billion in Slovenia.

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Novartis is the leading provider of medicines in Slovenia, where Lek, Novartis Pharma Services and Sandoz, operate. Together we are building and maintaining the reputation of a dynamic, ethical, and trusted pharmaceutical company. Lek develops, manufactures, and markets effective, safe, and high quality medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients. With our knowledge, quality, and experience we have gained an important role in Novartis' organizational structure, especially in the Novartis Technical Operations, Global Drug Development, Novartis Business Services, and the generic division Sandoz. We are the leading Sandoz development center, and one of the key development sites for technologically complex projects. We invest a great deal in the development, education, and training of our employees. Over the last seven years, the company has created more than 2,250 jobs, making us one of the biggest employers in Slovenia. Novartis invested in Slovenia more than EUR 2.3 billion since 2003. 

About Sandoz
Sandoz, a Novartis division, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. Our purpose is to pioneer access to healthcare by developing and commercializing novel, affordable approaches that address unmet medical need. Our broad portfolio of high-quality medicines, covering all major therapeutic areas and increasingly focused on value-adding differentiated medicines, accounted for 2018 sales of USD 9.9 billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area.

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About Novartis
Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world’s top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach more than 750 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 108 thousand people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at www.novartis.com. 

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This press release contains statements and conclusions based on projections of Lek’s future business operations. These estimates are derived from the best information currently available. In case these forecasts prove unreliable, the actual results could prove different from those projected.

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For additional information contact:
Katarina Klemenc
Corporate Communications 
Lek Pharmaceuticals d. d.
Phone: +386 1 580 22 43
katarina.klemenc@sandoz.com