Novo Nordisk to invest $73 million in expanding its US manufacturing facility

Danish insulin giant and diabetes drug major Novo Nordisk (NVO.N) yesterday announced a $73 million expansion of its Clayton, North Carolina, USA, manufacturing facility to accommodate increased production capacity for the company's insulin delivery devices.

The initial expansion will create 205 new jobs, including 85 in the Novo Nordisk Clayton facility, which currently produces a number of products, including the Levemir FlexPen (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) and other products for the entire diabetes portfolio. Novo Nordisk currently has more than 420 employees in Clayton who oversee the full production process for six different diabetes treatment products, from formulation through packaging and distribution. The expansion will include the addition of two final assembly lines, two packing lines and building refurbishment.

"The investment to expand our Clayton facility is another example of our commitment to improving diabetes treatment options in the USA by ensuring patients have access to the latest advances in treatment," said Jerzy Gruhn, president of Novo Nordisk in the USA. "Insulin delivery devices give people with diabetes a convenient way to manage their health and engage in a productive lifestyle. As patients in the USA continue to move from administering insulin with a conventional vial and syringe to using a pen device, Novo Nordisk will be prepared to meet growing market demand," he added.