Novo Nordisk pushes into Russia with new insulin manufacturing facility

This is the first and only greenfield facility for the manufacturing of modern insulin in Russia, according to Novo, which also says it has set up environmental targets for carbon dioxide emission, water consumption and use of energy.

"The factory was built to ensure that patients in Russia will continue to have access to modern insulin from Novo Nordisk... The factory furthermore supports the Russian authorities' Pharma 2020 strategy on local production of pharmaceuticals​," Henrik Bendix Dahl, General Manager, Novo Nordisk Russia, told In-Pharmatechnologist.com.

The new GMP production facility, located in Technopark Grabtsevo in the Kaluga region of Russia, will add about 150 new jobs to the Russian economy and help to provide both Penfill ​cartridges and FlexPen prefilled insulin injection pens for the Russian market.

"The manufacturing facility in Kaluga is a sign of our long-term commitment to people with diabetes in Russia, where close to 10 million people have the disease according to local studies. With our investment in local manufacturing, we ensure availability of high-quality modern insulins to the people with diabetes in Russia who rely on our products every day​," said Lars Rebien Sørensen, CEO of Novo Nordisk. 

Novo Nordisk also has production sites in Denmark, Brazil – which was injected with $200m back in 2007​ -- China, France and the US.

The company has been busy in recent months with its manufacturing operations. In October, the company was hit with a subpoena​ over a Danish insulin and hemophilia treatment manufacturing site over alleged issues. Also in October, the company bought a manufacturing facility in New Hampshire​, where it’s looking to add 90 new employees.

The Danish drugmaker is also working to develop a new way to deliver insulin orally​.