31 January 2024
  • Novartis in Slovenia closed 2023 as the leading supplier of medicines in Slovenia with a 10% market share, providing Slovenian patients with access to all key Novartis innovative therapies.
  • Novartis Slovenia experts support more than half of Novartis’ priority innovative medicines in various stages of their development, production and services.
  • In 2023, Novartis invested EUR 245 million in the growth and development of their sites in Slovenia and concluded the year with more than 3,600 associates.

Ljubljana, February 1, 2024 – Novartis concludes a successful 2023, marked by strategic transformation into a pure-play innovative medicines company. After the complex separation process of its generics business, Novartis continues to invest in Slovenia, thereby strengthening its role as the country’s leading pharmaceutical company for the development, production and marketing of innovative medicines. Slovenia has become one of Novartis’ key locations for the development and production of innovative medicines.

“A successful business year is behind us, a year which ended with us as the leading provider of medicines in Slovenia, as one of the largest employers in the country, and confirmed as an important part of Novartis network,” said Aymeric Royere, Novartis in Slovenia Country President. “With our experience, knowledge and high-quality standards, we develop, produce and market innovative medicines for disease areas where there is still a significant need for new treatments, and our locations in Ljubljana and Mengeš are essential within Novartis.”

Petra Štefanič Anderluh, Novartis LLC General Manager, said: “A milestone year is behind us, as we successfully completed a complex separation process that enables us to continue our journey focused on innovative medicines. Novartis’ commitment to Slovenia stays strong, as underlined by the continual investments that will enable us to realize the development opportunities offered by the transition. Our success is based on our exceptional knowledge and commitment to innovation, our courage, and our focus on people’s wellbeing. Based on the encouraging results of 2023, we are looking forward to the year ahead.”

EUR 245 million of investments for further growth

2023 was marked by further investments in Novartis’ locations in Ljubljana and Mengeš, which are already a key part of the technical development, production and marketing of Novartis’ innovative medicines. The total value of investments in 2023 reached EUR 245 million, with a focus on new facilities and the development and implementation of new technologies, including digitalization, automation and the use of artificial intelligence. The new investments will also create additional jobs over the next few years.

Among the key ongoing investments for the development and production of innovative medicines are:

Strong performance in the development and production of innovative medicines

In 2023, Novartis Slovenia launched various innovative medicines from its sites to many countries around the globe. In Mengeš Technical Biologics Development, there were 39 development projects in progress.

Novartis in Slovenia supports more than half of Novartis’ priority innovative medicines for patients in Slovenia and worldwide in various stages of development, production and services. Based on knowledge and expertise, Slovenian experts are involved in all five Novartis high-tech platforms – Chemistry, Biotherapeutics, xRNA, Radioligand and Gene & Cell Therapy.

The excellence of Novartis experts was confirmed with the gold national award for innovation awarded by the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia. The award was received in the field of biologics development and production for a process innovation that improves productivity and efficiency, and increases the flexibility of the production of biological molecules while being more environmentally sustainable.

The leading provider of medicines with a 10% market share

With a 10% market share, Novartis ended 2023 as the leading provider of medicines in Slovenia, ensuring Slovenian patients access to all key Novartis therapies. More than 80,000 patients in Slovenia benefit from Novartis’ innovative therapies in various therapeutic areas. There are also more than 80 Slovenian patients involved in clinical studies for innovative medicines in the therapeutic areas of cardiology, oncology, neurology (MS), nephrology and diabetes, allowing them to benefit from early access to a new treatment approach.

Through cooperation with patient associations and numerous comprehensive disease awareness campaigns, Novartis in Slovenia supported patients in 2023 in particular with activities in the fields of hematology, oncology, cardiology and neurology.

Strong focus on sustainability

Novartis’ new business strategy also incorporates multiple sustainable aspects of business. Novartis’ global target is to reduce its environmental footprint by 50% by 2030.

  • Novartis in Slovenia fulfilled their internal environmental commitments by employing a systematic approach, reducing energy consumption by more than 10% and waste by more than 50%.
  • In 2023, more than 30 projects were implemented at Novartis locations in Slovenia to increase energy efficiency, ensure lower water consumption and reduce waste.
  • The Ljubljana site received the Novartis award for the most energy-efficient location in 2023.
  • Currently, there are around EUR 15 million of ongoing investments in sustainable technologies, the largest two being a zero-emission turbine in Mengeš and a wastewater treatment plant in Ljubljana.

The company puts emphasis on the support of its associates and the communities in which they work. During the August floods, Novartis supported affected associates with solidarity aid, and helped local communities through volunteering and giving a donation of EUR 500,000 to the Slovenian Red Cross.

Ongoing recruitment and strong collaboration with academic institutions

Creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone can be their best and true self is at the heart of Novartis’ culture. With an inspired, curious and unbossed culture, the company attracted 357 people to its ranks in the last six months of 2023. At the end of the year, Novartis in Slovenia employed a total of more than 3,600 associates.

The company implements different HR practices to attract talent, as there is a constant need for new people in different parts of the company. Among other things, in 2023 they organized a summer internship program, offered scholarships, collaborated with different student organizations, and held the now traditional scientific event BioCamp, which aims to connect students of science, technology and entrepreneurship with renowned experts and top managers, and to provide a unique insight into the pharmaceutical industry. Last year, BioCamp hosted 35 students from nine countries.

Last year, Novartis in Slovenia continued to strengthen collaboration with academic and research institutions, making an important contribution to innovation and the development of new knowledge. One great example of strong collaboration was the Novartis Academia Day, where the focus of 2023 was trends in biologics development and production.

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About Novartis

Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com

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This press release contains statements and forecasts of future business operations. The forecasts include estimates based on all the information currently available to us. Should these forecasts prove unreliable, the actual results of business operations could be different from those expected.

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For further information, please contact:
Mateja Breznik
Communication & Engagement 
Novartis LLC
[email protected]