Media Information
Cilag AG opens new pilot plant for Biotech products
Schaffhausen, February 28, 2008 – Today Cilag AG has officially inaugurated the new pilot plant for Biotech products. In the future new sterile products for clinical trials will be developed and produced in the so-called «Fill Finish Pilot Plant». The investment volume for the new plant amounted to 30 Million Swiss Francs.
The 1000 m2 big Fill Finish Pilot Plant (F2P2) is one of the latest plants of its kind. It’s used for the production of Lyophilisation of sterile solutions as well as for it’s filling into the pre-filled syringes, vials or carpuls. These products are mainly used in clinical trials of phases I[1] and II[2]. Thanks to the flexible orientation also small product batches, which are used in the clinical phase III[3]or are already available on the market, can be produced in the plant.
The pilot plant is part of the «Centocor Research and Development» department, which involves approx. 30 staff members in Schaffhausen. They work in the pharmaceutical and analytical development as well as in the regulatory division. Since 1999 Centocor belongs to Johnson & Johnson and is regarded as one of the leading Biotechnology Company worldwide in the area of the anaphylactic medication.
Cilag AG still has great significance within Johnson & Johnson
The processes and products of the new Fill Finish Pilot Plant are mainly supported by the development division, which underlines the high bio-technical know-how of Cilag AG and shows the importance to have the latest technology available, both in product- and process development and also in the production. The completion of the pilot plant on the Cilag area at Hochstrasse clarifies the significance of the company as strategic development-, launch- and production site within the Johnson & Johnson group of companies.
Various further investment projects
Besides the Fill Finish Pilot Plant various other, big investments took place again at Cilag AG. Amongst others a new syringe filling- and packaging line and an optical control system were installed. At the logistic center Herblingertal new labs for the chemical quality control were installed. With the modernization of the older part of the chemical production on the traditional Grafenbuck area at the Hochstrasse great improvements were achieved and the topping-out ceremony was celebrated end of the year. In the next construction phase the front works and the mounting of the building infrastructures will follow.
Cilag AGContact: Thomas Moser, Head of Communication
CommunicationsTelefon direct: +41 (0) 52 630 88 44
Hochstrasse 201mobile: +41 (0)79 205 55 35
CH-8205 Schaffhausen email:
[1]In clinical trials of phase I new agents are tested in 50 to 100 healthy male volunteers.
[2]In clinical trials of phase II the number of volunteers is extended (100 – 300). The tests increase in volume and complex. In this phase sick humans receive the agent. The trials are carried out as double-blind study – i.e. nor the mentoring physician nor the patient know, which patient receives the agent und which is only treated with a placebo, a medication without agent
[3]In clinical trials of phase III on wide base tests are performed, also in smaller hospitals and doctor’s practices. More than 1000 persons are part of the tested patients. In this phase it is possible to discover infrequent side effects. Further intention is the adduction of an advantage confirmation in relation to existing therapies.