Novo Nordisk announces $73M expansion of Clayton insulin delivery systems manufacturing facility

Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company and leader in diabetes care, today announced a $73 million expansion of its Clayton, NC manufacturing facility to accommodate increased production capacity for the Company's insulin delivery devices.

The initial expansion will create 205 new jobs, including 85 in the Novo Nordisk Clayton facility, which currently produces a number of products, including the Levemir® FlexPen® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) and other products for the entire diabetes portfolio. Novo Nordisk currently has more than 420 employees in Clayton who oversee the full production process for six different diabetes treatment products, from formulation through packaging and distribution. The expansion will include the addition of two final assembly lines, two packing lines and building refurbishment.

"The investment to expand our Clayton facility is another example of our commitment to improving diabetes treatment options in the U.S. by ensuring patients have access to the latest advances in treatment," said Jerzy Gruhn, president of Novo Nordisk Inc. "Insulin delivery devices give people with diabetes a convenient way to manage their health and engage in a productive lifestyle. As patients in the U.S. continue to move from administering insulin with a conventional vial and syringe to using a pen device, Novo Nordisk will be prepared to meet growing market demand."

Novo Nordisk, which created the first insulin pen device in 1985, is a world leader in producing and delivering innovative insulin delivery systems. The company has been working with physicians and patients to demonstrate the many benefits of modern delivery devices over vials and syringes, including adherence, ease of use and dosing accuracy. Since their launch 25 years ago, devices have become the dominant form of insulin delivery in most markets outside the U.S. and are gaining share domestically.

Novo Nordisk selected the Clayton site for expansion after an evaluation of both domestic and international facilities. Cost and productivity factors, including the levels of incentive support from local and state resources, were taken into consideration. The Clayton expansion project is approved to receive incentive support from a Job Development Investment Grant and a One North Carolina Fund grant.  The company's final decision is contingent upon final approval of local government incentives by Johnston County and Buncombe County.