February 2 (SeeNews) – Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis has increased its investments in Slovenia to 346 million euros ($381 million) in 2022 from 289 million euros in the previous year to strengthen its local development and production capacity, its Slovenian branch Lek. .

Novartis has started building a plant for the production of aseptic vials and syringes in Ljubljana and started an investment worth 110 million euros in the construction of a biological center in Mengš to support early clinical trials, Lek announced on Wednesday.

Investments in environmental sustainability amounted to 10.5 million euros, announced Lek.

Novartis maintained its leading position on the Slovenian pharmaceutical market with a 14% market share, while Lek strengthened its position as the second largest company with a 29% market share on the generic drugs market.

In 2022, Novartis Pharma and Novartis Oncology operated within the framework of the joint unit Innovative Medicines Slovenia, which is the largest provider of innovative medicines in Slovenia with an almost 10% market share, according to Lek.

Novartis is active on the Slovenian market through local subsidiaries Lek, Novartis Pharma Services and Sandoz. Since 2003, the Swiss group has invested approximately 3.4 billion euros in Slovenia.

($ = 0.9091 euros)