Lendava, 25 April (STA) - The foundation stone for Lek's new EUR 10 million analytical laboratory was laid in Lendava on Thursday, marking further development of its major regional pharmaceutical site. Expected within a year and creating around 40 jobs, the lab will support the adjacent EUR 400 million biosimilar active ingredient plant currently under construction.
The Ljubljana-based company, which is part of Swiss generics group Sandoz, said the new laboratory will be dedicated to testing batches of solid dosage products packaged in Lendava and conducting stability studies. It aims to shorten throughput times and contribute to optimising finished product inventories.
Gregor Makuc, CEO of Lek and President of Sandoz Slovenia, described the Lendava site as exceptionally important. He noted that besides packaging solid dosage products, Lendava also produces clavulanic acid and is constructing a new high-tech centre for manufacturing active ingredients for biosimilar medicines used to treat the most challenging diseases.
"With these investments, which will bring an additional 350 to 400 new jobs to Lendava, the Lendava site will become one of the key locations - a main pharmaceutical hub within the Sandoz group among all countries worldwide," he pointed out.
Simon Rečnik, director of the solid dosage products segment and member of the Sandoz Slovenia leadership team, echoed these points. "To further solidify Lek's position in Lendava as a global pharmaceutical centre, we have laid the foundation stone for a new analytical laboratory. This will perform analyses of medicines packaged in Lendava and conduct so-called stability studies."
Rečnik explained that performing analyses locally will significantly shorten throughput times, allowing Lek to "respond more easily and quickly to the needs of the market and patients" and ensure timely delivery of safe, effective medicines.
He also highlighted the collaboration with the local community as a success story, with Lendava Mayor Janez Magyar likewise emphasising the importance of this latest Lek investment for the municipality.
The overall project, including the main high-tech centre for producing active ingredients for biosimilar medicines that is expected to commence operations by the end of 2026, represents the largest foreign direct investment currently underway in Slovenia and the largest in Lek's history.
Last year, the European Commission approved EUR 52 million in state aid for the main biosimilar facility, recognising its contribution to EU strategic goals, job creation, and regional development in Pomurje, one of Slovenia's least developed regions.
