On June 24, 2024, Novo Nordisk announced a significant investment of $4.1 billion (approximately DKK27 billion) to build a second fill/finish manufacturing facility in Clayton, N.C. This expansion aims to enhance the company’s production capacity for injectable therapeutics used in treating obesity and other serious chronic diseases. With this new facility, Novo Nordisk’s total 2024 investments in production will reach $6.8 billion, a substantial increase from the previous year’s $3.9 billion investment.
Significant Manufacturing Investment
The $4.1 billion investment is one of the largest in Novo Nordisk’s history, marking a pivotal moment for the company. The new facility will add 1.4 million square feet of production space dedicated to aseptic manufacturing and finished production processes. This expansion will double the combined square footage of Novo Nordisk’s existing facilities in North Carolina, bringing 1,000 new jobs to the region and boosting the current workforce of nearly 2,500 employees.
Construction and Operational Timeline
Construction of the new manufacturing facility will be completed gradually, with finalization expected between 2027 and 2029. This timeline reflects the company’s commitment to expanding its production capabilities to meet the growing global demand for its innovative medicines.
CEO Statement
Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, emphasized the importance of this investment: “It took us a century to reach 40 million patients, but through this expansion and continued investment in our global production, we’re building Novo Nordisk’s ability to serve millions more people living with serious chronic diseases in the future. This is yet another real signal of our efforts to scale up our production to meet the growing global need for our life-changing medicines and the patients of tomorrow.”
Sustainable Manufacturing Goals
The new facility will incorporate sustainable features such as roof-top solar panels and innovative water management strategies. Novo Nordisk aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, a prestigious standard for efficient, healthy, and cost-saving green buildings.
Long-term Commitment to Clayton
Henrik Wulff, executive vice-president of Product Supply, Quality & IT at Novo Nordisk, highlighted the importance of the Clayton site: “Clayton was the first manufacturing site for Novo Nordisk in the United States, and this new, large-scale investment confirms the continued importance of our production facilities there as cornerstones of our company’s growth. For decades, we have partnered to foster a well-trained, dedicated, and diverse local workforce in North Carolina. In Clayton and across our global manufacturing sites, we are driven by one purpose: to deliver more for the millions of people living with chronic diseases—and this facility will help us achieve just that.”
Global Expansion Efforts
In addition to its U.S. expansion, Novo Nordisk is also investing in its European operations. In November 2023, the company announced a multi-billion dollar expansion of its production site in Chartres, France. This project will increase capacity for aseptic production and finished production processes, as well as extend the site’s quality control laboratory. The Chartres expansion, which includes capacity for glucagon-like peptide-1 products, is expected to be completed between 2026 and 2028.
Conclusion
Novo Nordisk’s $4.1 billion investment in a new manufacturing facility in Clayton, N.C., underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its production capabilities and meeting the growing demand for treatments for obesity and other chronic diseases. This substantial investment not only boosts local job creation but also aligns with Novo Nordisk’s sustainability goals. As the company continues to invest in both U.S. and European operations, it remains dedicated to serving millions of patients worldwide with innovative and life-changing medicines.
