AstraZeneca has opened a new $224m drug manufacturing and packaging facility in Kaluga, Russia.
Construction of a new pharmaceutical facility is reportedly the largest foreign investment in Russia and will enable the local supply of new medicines.
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Scheduled to be fully operational by 2017, the new facility will manufacture around 40 million packs and 850 million tablets of around 30 medicines every year.
It represents more than 60% of medicines sold in Russia by AstraZeneca to treat diseases across its therapy areas.
In addition, Pfizer, Sanofi, Novartis and Novo Nordisk have unveiled plans to increase investment in production and research in Russia.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said: "Our new dedicated production facility will support our efforts to bring innovative medicines from our exciting pipeline to patients in Russia.
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By GlobalData"This opening builds on our investments in clinical research and scientific collaborations in this important country and serves to reinforce our long-term commitment to Russia."
Currently, the company employs more than 1,400 people in Russia working across commercial, manufacturing, scientific and clinical research and enabling functions.
Around 50 of the company’s medicines are licensed for sale in Russia.
The new facility expands AstraZeneca’s worldwide manufacturing capabilities to support its portfolio of medicines and increasing demand.
