Novo Nordisk launches protein production at Bohumil facility in Czechia

CZECHIA—Novo Nordisk has announced the start of production of “supportive proteins” at its Czech Republic facility, marking a new phase of operations eighteen months after the company acquired the site from Novavax.

The plant, located in the Czech Republic, now employs around 300 staff and has undergone extensive upgrades to align with the company’s global manufacturing standards.

Novo Nordisk invested 3.5 billion Czech koruna (US$168 million) in modernization works following its US$200 million acquisition of the facility.

The improvements included upgrades to production lines, digital infrastructure, and quality control systems designed to support next-generation diabetes and obesity treatments.

Jakub Kronovetr, general manager of Novo Nordisk’s Czech production operations, said the company rebuilt the site to meet strict global requirements.

He noted that the upgrades focused on strengthening manufacturing reliability while improving digital integration across production processes.

The facility previously operated as a vaccine production site.

Before Novo Nordisk’s acquisition, Novavax acquired the plant in 2020 through its US$167 million purchase of Praha Vaccines, as it prepared to scale up COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing.

At that time, the site employed about 150 workers and was expected to produce up to one billion doses annually in collaboration with India’s Serum Institute.

However, in August 2024, Novavax placed the facility up for sale, leading to Novo Nordisk’s acquisition and redevelopment plan.

China investment targets injection pens output expansion

In a separate development, Novo Nordisk confirmed a new investment of 200 million yuan ($29 million) in its Tianjin manufacturing plant to expand production capacity for injection pens used in diabetes care.

 The company said the upgrade aims to strengthen supply and better meet rising demand for medication in China.

This latest investment follows a US$112 million upgrade announced in July of the previous year, which focused on expanding the plant’s testing laboratory capabilities.

Earlier, in 2024, Novo Nordisk outlined a broader 4 billion yuan (US$556 million) expansion plan for the Tianjin site, including a sterile preparation project to increase long-term production capacity.

The Tianjin facility has been in operation since 1994 and remains one of Novo Nordisk’s seven global manufacturing hubs.

The coastal city, located about 75 miles southeast of Beijing, continues to serve as a key industrial base supporting the company’s injectable drug portfolio and device manufacturing operations.

Across both Europe and Asia, the company continues to scale up infrastructure investments to support production of metabolic disease treatments and delivery systems, with each site integrated into its wider global supply network.