Lek receives Manufacturing Excellence Award

  • At the annual PHARM Connect congress, the Manufacturing Excellence Awards were presented. Among this year’s winners is once again the pharmaceutical company Lek that received the award for the implementation of data science in generic medicine development projects.
  • In the process of developing generic medicines, we have to be fast and agile and at the same time assure the highest quality of medicines. To achieve this, a number of initiatives, including digital, operational and scientific excellence, are in place to help the researchers at the Development Centre Slovenia. 
  • The pharmaceutical company Lek, which is part of Novartis, received the Pharmaceutical Excellence Award at the PHARM Connect congress also last year.
12. 3. 2020

At the PHARM Connect congress, the market leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing business summit for Central East Europe (CEE), including the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (Eurasian countries), the Manufacturing Excellence Awards were presented. Among this year’s winners is once again the pharmaceutical company Lek that received the awards for the implementation of data science in generic medicine development projects.

Jernej Luzar, a researcher in the Pharmaceutical Development, accepted the Manufacturing Excellence Awards on behalf of the team from the Development Centre Slovenia, a leading development centre within Sandoz. » In the process of developing generic medicines, we have to be fast and agile and at the same time assure the highest quality of medicines. To achieve this, a number of initiatives, including digital, operational and scientific excellence, are in place to help the researchers at the Development Centre Slovenia. We received the Manufacturing Excellence Award for the use of data science in various development projects. We highlighted six practical examples of how different methods of data science such as statistical and mechanical modelling, were used in formulation and process development. These methods help us to understand the development of products and justify our decisions, to accelerate development and reduce the cost of individual projects. The crucial thing, however, is that the use of data science significantly supports the development and manufacture of competitive and high-quality medicines for patients worldwide,« explained Jernej Luzar, who presented the awarded project at the PHARM Connect congress. 

Successful projects are always the result of teamwork. The associates from the Development Centre Slovenia, who were part of the winning project team, emphasised: »Winning the award for this project represents significant recognition of our modern approach to the development of new generic medicines. It allows us to show the strength of our curiosity in our everyday work with which we tackle challenges and prepare ourselves for new opportunities. The award is a testament to our innovation in development and manufacturing of medicines as we want to be first to use novel approaches in different areas of the pharmaceutical industry.«

Find out more about the award at the PHARM Connect website (link). 

The pharmaceutical company Lek won the Pharmaceutical Excellence Award at the PHARM Connect congress also in 2019 and 2018, for the implementation of real-time particle size and shape analysis in the manufacture of multi-layered coated pellets, and for the development of a child -friendly antibiotic in the form of a fast dissolving tablet, respectively.

* * *

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 eight years, the company has created more than 2,700 jobs, making us one of the biggest employers in Slovenia. Novartis invested in Slovenia more than EUR 2.5 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 ambition is to be the world’s leading and most valued generics company. Our broad portfolio of high-quality medicines, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2019 sales of USD 9.7 billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany’s Greater Munich area.

Sandoz is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @SandozGlobal at http://twitter.com/Sandoz_Global.

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 109 thousand people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at www.novartis.com. 

* * *

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.

- end -

For additional information contact:
Katarina Klemenc
Corporate Communications 
Lek Pharmaceuticals d. d.
Phone: +386 1 580 22 43
Fax: +386 1 580 24 32
katarina.klemenc@sandoz.com