Novartis in Slovenia is celebrating a year of breakthrough innovations and strengthening its position as an attractive investment location

  • Through innovation in  development, manufacturing, sales and services, Novartis in Slovenia performed  in line with plans and achieved ambitious targets last year. 
  • Through the effective  implementation of transformation projects, the company is becoming an  increasingly important player in the global market for innovative medicines,  innovative biologics and biosimilars, and high value-added generics.
  • Investments of €289 million have  strengthened development and production capacities towards greater digitization  and automation, and supported the expansion of Novartis in Slovenia from a generic to a more innovative pharmaceutical company. 
  • In 2021, the company increased  its workforce by 580 associates. At the end of the year, Novartis in Slovenia had  almost 5,500 full-time associates. Earlier this year, the company was awarded  the prestigious international "Top Employer" certificate for the  second time in a row.
4. 2. 2022

Novartis in Slovenia, which includes Lek d.d., the Novartis Pharma Services Inc. and Sandoz d.d., ended the year on a high note in the wake of the difficult situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the strategy of Novartis to become the world's leading pharmaceutical company in mind, the company achieved ambitious goals in 2021. In doing so, the company made significant strides in both the development and manufacturing of medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients, continued to digitize and automate its facilities, and introduced predictive analytics and virtual technology.

The year 2021 marked the continuation of the transformation towards more development-intensive, higher value-added products and the establishment of the Global Operations Center, accompanied by an extensive investment cycle and intensive recruitment. Another major achievement of the year was the signing of a contract with BioNTech to support the filling and packaging of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, at the state-of-the-art Novartis Technical Operations facility in Ljubljana. In addition, the company recently announced a new investment in production capacity for aseptic products in vials and syringes, which was also supported by a government incentive. The investment involves the construction of a new facility at the Ljubljana site with state-of-the-art equipment for isolator technology, which is not available in any pharmaceutical company in Slovenia.

The associates of Novartis in Slovenia provide technologically  sophisticated products for more than 80 Novartis markets worldwide

Novartis believes that breakthrough medicines and product innovations will be increasingly important in the pharmaceutical industry in the years to come, which is why in the past year, the company has increasingly focused on technologically sophisticated, patient-tailored, high value-added medicines that will also help strengthen the sustainability and resilience of healthcare systems around the world.

Development Center Slovenia, Sandoz's lead  development center, filed 29 dossiers for generic medicines in the key markets  of the US, Europe, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Mexico and Thailand, and  launched 13 generic medicines for the treatment of anemia, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, fungal diseases and pulmonary fibrosis.

  • The Mengeš site has established itself as one of the most important Novartis sites in the field of biosimilars and biologics over the past year. In 2021, the Technical Research & Development Biologics Mengeš facility was the site of various development phases for 14 innovative biologics and more than 10 biosimilars development projects. The state-of-the-art technology at the site also supports the development of cell and gene therapies at Novartis.
  • As part of the new strategy of Novartis, the Ljubljana and Lendava Solids have been given the opportunity to become a key part of the company's innovative global pharmaceutical manufacturing in the years to come.

 

In 2021, Novartis in Slovenia continued the transformation of its  manufacturing sites and strengthened the production of complex generic medicines and innovative medicines with high added value

  • In 2021, Novartis in Slovenia launched 778 new products in more than 80 countries, including a new drug for advanced breast cancer.
  • Thirty-seven innovative medicines were produced and packaged at manufacturing sites in Slovenia.

 

Slovenia is a highly attractive investment location for Novartis in  terms of quality, know-how and cost-effectiveness

Novartis in Slovenia is positioning itself as an extremely attractive investment location within the Swiss Group, offering everything from development through the production of active ingredients and finished products to a significant part of commercial operations. Novartis invests around €200 million annually in Slovenia to strengthen its development and production capacities. In 2021, this figure was €289 million and the investments will support the expansion of Novartis in Slovenia from a generic to a more innovative pharmaceutical company.

  • In 2021, a record number of investment projects worth more than €60 million were approved for Drug Substance Bioproduction Mengeš.
  • In Ljubljana Solids, this year's investments were dedicated to the establishment of a production line for the first continuous pharmaceutical production in Novartis and the establishment of a production line for melt extrusion.
  • Novartis in Slovenia has successfully continued its Global Operations Center activities in 2021, with the creation of two new functions, Engineering and Manufacturing Science & Technology, and the strengthening of the workforce to more than 900 associates.
  • The main investments have been made to strengthen development and production capacities towards greater digitization and automation, based on state-of-the-art technology that enables agile and flexible production.

Novartis in Slovenia maintained its leading position in the  Slovenian pharmaceutical market with a 14.2% market share across all its divisions

  • Lek is the second largest company on the generics market with a 28.4% market share. It has strengthened its market position as the second largest provider of prescription medicines and has maintained its market leadership in the OTC, generic anti-infective and biosimilars markets.

  • Novartis Oncology has an 11.4% market share in the Slovenian oncology market and is the number one per capita in Europe
    • In 2021, a new drug for the treatment of advanced breast cancer (Piqray) was introduced to Slovenian patients.
    • Two other patients in Slovenia have also received the Novartis CAR-T breakthrough cell therapy for the treatment of severe blood cancers (Kymriah).
    • They have a shared interest with AAA to help bring breakthrough radioligand therapy to patients in Slovenia.
  • Novartis Pharma is the market leader with a 9.4% market share and has recorded 13.6% annual growth.
    • The first patient in Slovenia received breakthrough gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy.
    • Three new innovative medicines have been added to the list of publicly funded medicines: a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (Beovu) and two medicines for multiple sclerosis (Mayzent and Kesimpta).
  • In 2021, Sandoz d.d. shipped 2,540 different  products to 74 countries around the world, including 211 new launches.
    • Their medicines reach nearly 50 million patients worldwide.
    • They have entered into a partnership with the African Union and are the first pharmaceutical company to offer nine generic medicines for 19 countries on the Africa Medical Supplies online platform.
    • They have also entered a global project with activities to sell cephalosporin antibiotics in more than 50 export markets, as well as to actively support transformation in a number of countries.

 

Novartis in Slovenia was once again named "Top Employer"  earlier this year

Novartis In Slovenia continued to introduce the Choice with Responsibility advanced work model in 2021, which allows associates to choose how, where and when they do their work, depending on the nature of their work. The successful agile working environment is conditional on the culture of unbossing that the company has been developing in recent years.

  • In 2021, the company increased its workforce by 580 associates. At the end of the year, Novartis in Slovenia employed almost 5,500 people on a full-time basis.
  • For the second year in a row, Novartis in Slovenia was the first pharmaceutical company in Slovenia to be awarded the prestigious international "Top Employer" certificate by the independent Top Employers Institute.
  • Lek, a part of Novartis in Slovenia, has been awarded the title of the Most Reputable Employer for the second time in a row, and for the third time in total, by the job portal MojeDelo.com.
  • In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of protective measures put the health, safety and well-being of associates first. Social, mental and physical well-being was improved through the Energized for Life program.
  • The efforts of Novartis in Slovenia in the area of diversity and inclusion were complemented in 2021 with the LGBT Friendly Company title and the MEGA Inspiration Award for good practice in intergenerational cooperation in the workplace. The Young Advisory Board initiative was awarded the Golden Practice Award by the Dnevnik newspaper.
  • In 2021, Novartis in Slovenia hosted the annual BioCamp, a world-class scientific event aimed at connecting promising students, academic institutions and the economy, and the Novartis Career Breakfast, which presented job opportunities to more than 300 young local and international talents and professionals.

Novartis in Slovenia has taken decisive steps in the past year to  reduce its environmental impact

  • They have reduced the use of single-use plastic products and replaced them with more environmentally friendly alternatives. In a series of measures, they have also optimized the use of process and drinking water.
  • They have started to remove PVC materials from secondary and tertiary packaging, installed charging stations for electric and hybrid vehicles, and introduced an electric delivery van.

 

Novartis in Slovenia supported new research  projects at Slovenian universities with €75,000 and an additional €25,000 for  cancer prevention and improving the health of cancer patients. The grants were awarded in the context of three anniversaries – 75 years of Lek, 25 years of Novartis and 15 years of biosimilars.

Novartis scientists in Slovenia rounded off the  year with a number of awards and prizes

  • An interdisciplinary team consisting of Novartis in Slovenia associates and the Ljubljana University Incubator, was awarded the Prometheus in Science  Award for Excellence in Communication for the first virtual hackathon of Novartis in Slovenia.
  • The Slovene associates of the Novartis Development Centers received three Novartis Scientific  Awards, among them also the prestigious Novartis Distinguished Scientist Award.
  • An expert researcher from Development Center Slovenia, received the Minařik Award 2021 for merit in the development of the pharmaceutical profession, awarded by the Slovenian Pharmaceutical Society.
  • Scientists from the Development Center Slovenia and Technical Research & Development Biologics received eight Sandoz Science Awards, including two Scientific Excellence Awards. They also received one special mention and five best poster awards.
  • The Vision mixed reality project represented Novartis in Slovenia as a super-finalist in the Best of the Best 2021 competition, through which AmCham Slovenia recognizes the best business practices in Slovenia.
  • A Novartis Process Expert at Ljubljana Solids was among the nominees for Engineer of the Year 2021.

At the national level, Lek, part of Novartis, has also received  outstanding awards

  • The Institute of Chemistry presented Lek with an award for its research collaboration.
  • The Finance newspaper recognized the long tradition of energy management and awarded Lek the Energy Efficient Company 2021 Award.
  • The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has awarded a Silver National Innovation Award for a project to automate analytical processes in the development of biosimilars.
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Novartis is the leading provider of medicines in Slovenia, where Lek d.d., Novartis Pharma Services Inc. and Sandoz d.d., 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 Operations, Global Drug Development 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. Novartis invested in Slovenia more than EUR 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 for patients by developing and commercializing novel, affordable approaches that address unmet medical needs. 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 2021 sales of USD 9.6 billion.

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 nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 108,000 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 forecasts of future business operations.The forecasts include estimates based on all the information currently available to us. Should these forecasts prove unreliable, the actual results of business operations could be different from those expected.

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For further information, please contact:
Gregor  Makuc
Communication & External Engagement
Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d.
Telephone: 01 580 22 43
gregor.makuc@sandoz.com