JAZZ Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) and its subsidiary, GW Pharmaceuticals (“GW”) – a world leader in discovering, developing and delivering regulatory approved cannabis-based medicines – today announced the official initiation of construction of its new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Kent Science Park (KSP) in Sittingbourne.
The new state-of-the-art facility will be approximately 60,000 sq. ft, with an investment of over $100 million (approximately £75m). Once operational, the facility will create more than 100 highly skilled new jobs. Due to open in 2024, the facility is designed to support the company’s two regulatory-approved cannabis-based medicines and support future capacity for new medicines under development. Jazz currently manufactures the extract, active pharmaceutical ingredients and the formulated drug products at KSP, occupying 12 buildings with more than 400 employees, making it, and the UK, the heart of our global cannabinoid manufacturing operations.
The new facility has been designed with careful consideration to the environment, and this will continue through its build phase and use. Animal refuge boxes will be installed to promote wildlife in the local area, the use of single use plastics will be minimised and more than 1,100 solar panels will be installed to provide a portion of the building’s energy usage.
“The UK has been our home for over two decades. This strategic investment underlines Jazz’s continued commitment to the UK and will help us bring potentially life-changing medicines to more patients who desperately need them in the UK and around the world,” said Chris Tovey, executive vice president, chief operating officer and managing director, Europe & International at Jazz Pharmaceuticals. “We are thrilled to have commenced construction of this state-of-the-art facility in Kent, which will create more than 100 permanent, highly skilled jobs. This facility, which is expected to open in 2024, will not only significantly increase our ability to support the growing demand for our medicines, but help us maintain our position as a world leader in cannabinoid science.”
George Freeman MP, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, said: “This £75m investment by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in a state of the art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility is a big sign of confidence in the UK life science ecosystem. Not only will this investment support the creation of over 100 additional highly skilled jobs in the region, it is a sign of UK expertise in cannabinoid science and medicines serving the U.K. and beyond.”
Over the past two decades, GW has made significant investment in the KSP site, building major in-house processing and manufacturing expertise to meet the growing demand for its medicines. On our journey to creating world-first medicines, we have assembled a large, talented and highly skilled, in-house team of professionals with expertise spanning botanical growing, pre-clinical and clinical R&D, product development, manufacturing and testing. The majority of these roles are based out of our site in Kent. The Company’s two medicines manufactured at the site both follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
The beginning of construction at the site was marked by an event attended by Bruce Cozadd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Chris Tovey, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Europe & International at Jazz Pharmaceuticals and representatives from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department of International Trade, and the Office for Life Sciences.
