Novo Nordisk has broken ground on a new diabetes medicine production facility in North Carolina, US, which will be built at a cost of $1.8bn.
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The investment is part of the company’s plans to invest nearly $2bn in production facilities in Clayton, US and Malov and Kalundborg, Denmark.
When operational in 2020, the facility will produce active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for a range of Novo Nordisk’s current and future GLP-1 and insulin medicines.
North Carolina governor Pat McCrory said: "Novo Nordisk’s billion dollar decision to bring this landmark manufacturing facility to North Carolina underscores its commitment to our state and confidence in our state’s talent."
The proposed facility is being built adjacent to Novo Nordisk’s existing plant in Clayton, which is involved in the formulation, filling and packaging of diabetes medicines.
The plant also assembles and packages the company’s FlexPen and FlexTouch prefilled insulin devices for the US market.
McCrory added: "This expansion of the current site and workforce highlights our ability to be a leader in biomanufacturing at the global level."
The production expansion will create 700 new jobs with another 2,500 jobs to be created during the construction phase of the new plant.
Novo Nordisk president Lars Rebien Sørensen said: "As the prevalence of diabetes has grown in the US, so too has the demand for effective treatments.
"It gives me great pride to break ground on our new facility site in Clayton where we have an existing, strong organisation.
"This site will play a vital role in enabling us to meet the needs of people living with diabetes in the US for years to come."
With nearly 39,700 employees in 75 countries, Novo Nordisk markets its products in more than 180 countries.
Image: Novo Nordisk’s existing plant in Clayton assembles and packages the company’s FlexPen and FlexTouch prefilled insulin devices. Photo: courtesy of Novo Nordisk.
