Novartis Opens €40M Viral Vector Facility in Slovenia to Boost Cell & Gene Therapy

• Novartis has inaugurated a €40 million viral vector manufacturing facility in Mengeš, Slovenia, marking its first such investment in Europe.

• The fully automated plant will support cell and gene therapy production, contributing to the company’s €3.5 billion total investment in Slovenia.

Novartis has officially opened a €40 million ($41.2 million) viral vector manufacturing facility in Mengeš, Slovenia, as part of its broader strategy to enhance cell and gene therapy capabilities across Europe. The site, named VIFA One, represents the company’s first step into viral vector production on the continent.

Construction of VIFA One began in 2023, and Novartis has positioned the facility as a cutting-edge, fully automated site. Robotics will oversee all stages of production within a single location, aiming to streamline efficiency in viral vector manufacturing. This expansion brings Novartis’ total investment in Slovenia to €3.5 billion ($3.6 billion).

Novartis operates in Slovenia through Novartis LLC and Novartis Pharma Services, with locations in Ljubljana and Mengeš. The company currently has approximately €500 million ($516 million) in ongoing investments at these sites, reinforcing Slovenia’s role in its global operations. “Our location in Mengeš has a long tradition of developing and producing biologics,” said Petra Štefanič Anderluh, a Novartis general manager. “Mengeš represents the largest center for modern innovative biotechnology in Slovenia.”

Slovenia has been a key investment hub for Novartis and its former generics and biosimilars division, Sandoz. In 2023, Sandoz committed $400 million to a new biologics facility in the country before its spin-off from Novartis. Despite cost-cutting measures in 2022, Novartis allocated $300 million to expand its development and manufacturing operations, including $110 million specifically for its Slovenian site in Mengeš.