Lek opens 400 million euro biopharmaceutical center in Lendava

Lek, a member of the Sandoz group, has opened a new high-tech biopharmaceutical center in Lendava, Slovenia. The project represents a 400 million euro investment focused on producing active ingredients for biosimilar medicines.

The facility utilizes smart automation and process analytical technology to monitor thousands of parameters in real time, ensuring high productivity and quality. The center is part of Sandoz’s ‘Bio100’ goal to offer over 100 biosimilar medicines in its portfolio by 2040. This expansion aims to increase Europe’s capacity for affordable medicines and reduce dependence on global supply chains.

Construction of the center took approximately three years and involved over 260 companies, including roughly 200 Slovenian firms. The facility has already employed more than 300 people, with nearly half of the new staff hailing from the local Pomurje region. This brings the total number of employees at the Lendava site to over 1,200. To support the local workforce, a partnership with the University of Maribor has established a center for practical training in pharmaceutical production.