A Novo Nordisk announced this Monday (9) a new investment of approximately R$500 million to expand the production capacity of enzymes used in medicines to treat diabetes and obesity at its factory in Montes Claros (MG).
The expansion, said the manufacturer of the Ozempic e Wegswill include the construction of a new production line that will triple enterokinase production capacity. Production of ALP, used in the manufacture of insulin, will also continue at full capacity.
Enterokinase is an essential enzyme for the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients for GLP-1 analogues used in the treatment of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
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Construction work for the expansion will begin in January next year, with completion scheduled for January 2026. Production is expected to begin in early 2027, after the testing and validation phases.
Brazil, according to the company, plays a strategic role globally, as Novo Nordisk has been producing enterokinase in Montes Claros since 2021 and ALP since 2008. The company said that 25% of the insulin produced globally by Novo Nordisk is sent from Montes Claros .
In October, Novo Nordisk had already announced an investment of 864 million reais for process improvements and factory modernization at its facilities in Minas Gerais.