Biogen selects Denmark for first international major manufacturing facility
Leading biopharmaceutical company to invest US $350 Million and create 400 jobs in first international major manufacturing facility
Biogen, Inc. recently announced that it has purchased a 60-acre (243,000 m2) site with an option for an additional 36 acres (145,692 m2) in the Municipality of Hillerød, Denmark as the site of its first European major manufacturing facility. Biogen plans to invest $350 million or approximately 3 billion Danish Kroner in the project, which should create 400 new jobs in the region.
The Danish facility will include an aseptic filling and finishing plant and a cell culture plant for the manufacture of therapeutic proteins currently in Biogen's development pipeline. AVONEX (Interferon beta-1a), the market leader for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), also will be filled and finished at the facility. Ground breaking for the facility will occur in early 2002.
James Mullen, Biogen's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Biogen is a world leader in biologics manufacturing and this new facility is an important step in the execution of our long-term global business strategy. It will give us greater flexibility and control of finished product, help us ensure capacity worldwide and enhance our presence outside the United States.
"The decision to locate our facility in Denmark was made after 14 months of thorough research and evaluation of many opportunities. Denmark is extremely competitive because of its pro-business attitude and the quality of its workforce. The region of Copenhagen and the Southern part of Sweden – often referred to as "Medicon Valley" – is world class in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. We are very enthusiastic about being there."
Paul Coleman, PhD., Biogen's Senior Director of Manufacturing and General Manager of the Hillerød site, said, "With this new plant, Biogen reinforces its manufacturing leadership. We are particularly pleased about the outstanding cooperation we received during the site-selection process from Copenhagen Capacity, the official investment agency of Greater Copenhagen, and the Municipality of Hillerød. The close cooperation made our decision making easier and gave us confidence for future development of this important project."
"Medicon Valley" – the region encompassing Copenhagen and Southern Sweden – contains more than 60 percent of the Scandinavian pharmaceutical and medical device industry. On a per capita basis, Medicon Valley has the highest number of biotechnology companies in Europe. Denmark and Sweden rank third and fifth, respectively, among the world's largest pharmaceutical exporters per capita.
Biogen, Inc., winner of the U.S. National Medal of Technology, is a biopharmaceutical company principally engaged in discovering and developing drugs for human healthcare through genetic engineering. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, the Company's revenues are generated from international sales of AVONEX (Interferon beta-1a) for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, and from the worldwide sales by licensees of a number of products, including alpha interferon and hepatitis B vaccines and diagnostic products. Biogen's research and development activities are focused on novel products to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, cancer, fibrosis and congestive heart failure. The Company maintains active clinical research programs in protein therapeutics, small molecules, genomics and gene therapy. For copies of press releases and additional information about the Company, please consult Biogen's Homepage on the web at www.biogen.com.
Source: Biogen Inc.
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