Sobi and Pfizer celebrate the opening of a new production plant in Croatia

Sobi and Pfizer recently celebrated the construction of a new biotechnology plant in Zagreb, Croatia with a groundbreaking ceremony on the new site.

3D rendition of the new Pfizer plant, Croatia

The facility is designed to produce biologically innovative drugs to treat rare diseases, which will be exported to 50 markets, making them more accessible and improving the lives of patients around the world. It will be equipped with technology to produce sophisticated medicines, measuring more than 4,000 square meters and covering 11 hectares. The new production plant is being built within an existing Pfizer manufacturing site which currently produces treatments for oncology and rare diseases, as well as a DNA template for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Christine Wesström, Head of Global Technical Operations and Senior Vice President at Sobi, also pointed out the importance of the partnership between Pfizer and Sobi in the realisation of this valuable investment and the importance of the production of medicines for rare diseases.

''Sobi is a specialised biopharmaceutical company that provides medicines to patients with rare diseases around the world. Our partners help us to ensure the global supply of high-quality, sustainable and cost-effective treatments. We have found strong partners in Pfizer and PC1, which is why we stand here today. We are delighted this very successful cooperation has now reached Croatia. We look forward to seeing how the construction of the new plant will develop and further strengthen our partnership'', said Christine Wesström.

Tarita Qveflander, Head of Strategic Sourcing & Direct Procurement, and Christine Wesström, Head of Global Technical Operations at the groundbreaking event.

Steven Stears, Vice President Biotech Cluster Lead, Pfizer, highlighted the benefits to Croatia and global patient community

''Strategic partnerships of this kind are key to Pfizer’s goal of delivering breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. The plan is for the new plant to be operationally ready in 2024 and approved for commercial supply in 2026. The state-of-the-art plant design is also in line with Pfizer’s sustainable development policies that aim for zero emissions by 2030. It is really nice to see how the technical expertise in biotechnology that we have here in Zagreb is fully recognised and used. I am convinced that we will continue to see Zagreb play a key role in Pfizer's production network and support our PC1 business'', pointed out Steven Stears.

Envoy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Nataša Mikuš Žigman also attended the celebration of the start of work on the construction of the new plant, praising the entire project and emphasising the importance of this investment for the development of the Croatian economy, locally and nationally.

''Through a comprehensive and integrated approach, the Government of the Republic of Croatia is continuously working to make Croatia an attractive place to invest in medicines, their research and development. That is why I am extremely glad we are opening a construction site on which a new biotechnological production plant of Pfizer, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, will be built, which will certainly contribute to social well-being and strengthening the resilience of drug supply chains'', said Nataša Mikuš Žigman.

The groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the construction of the new plant was also attended by the General Manager of Pfizer CentreOne Andrew Moore, Director of the Directorate for Internationalization of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development Bojan Batinić, Deputy Prefect of Zagreb County Damir Tomljenović, CEA President Mihael Furjan and AmChan Policy Manager Svjetlana Momčilović.

Building site June 2022 - ground breaking event of the new Pfizer plant, Croatia

The Sobi and Pfizer teams at the event

Christine Wesström, Head of Global Technical Operations