Opening of Roche’s Diagnostic Operations Complex in Penzberg
Date:
03.09.2010
Message:
PENZBERG, Sep 02, 2010. The Swiss biotechnology and pharma company Roche has opened a new Diagnostic Operation Complex (DOC) at its Penzberg location. Roche has invested € 136 M in the facility, which will be used for biotechnological production of immuno-diagnostic tests.
The opening ceremony was attented by the Bavarian prime minister Horst Seehofer as well as the Bavarian state minister for science, research and the arts Wolfgang Heubisch. Seehofer stressed the impact of the biotechnology and health sector for the high tech location Bavaria: “Our raw materials are ideas, therefore in Bavaria we need cutting edge research as we need the air to breathe. The innovations of today are the jobs of tomorrow.” Seehofer was pleased with Roche’s location choice:” I’m glad that Penzberg is further strengthened as a highly modern center of biotechnology with cutting edge research for the welfare of mankind.”
With the new construction, Roche further expands its world’s biggest biopharmaceutical production plant by additional 27,000 square meters of laboratories and offices. “Targeted investments, which facilitate the network from research and development to production of diagnostics are of central importance”, said Severin Schwan, CEO of Roche.
Roche’s investment in diagnostics demonstrates trust in the future technology of personalized medicine. “The importance of in-vitro diagnostics in health care will continue to rise, not only in the fields of prevention, early diagnosis and therapy control, but also in the framework of personalized medicine, which is a focus of our global research and development activities”, stated Schwan. Roche develops and produces diagnostic tests for special cancer markers, especially for breast cancer. In addition, there are tests for cardiovascular diagnosis and for infectious diseases like hepatitis and HIV.
The dedication to personalized medicine is a strategic core element of the biotechnology cluster in the greater Munich area. The region offers optimal surroundings to advance biomarker-based diagnosis and targeted therapies: excellent research institutes, a high density of clinics and medical practices, and a high number of innovative biotech companies which are actively involved in drug development. The cluster is managed by BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH.
The federal ministry of education and research has recently awarded the status “cutting edge cluster” to Munich. The initiative “m4 – a new dimension of drug development” is going to embed the next generation technology of personalized medicine in the Greater Munich area.
More information:
www.roche.de
www.m4.de
Contact:
Dr. Almut Graebsch
BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH
Am Klopferspitz 19
D-82152 MartinsriedTel.: +49-89-899679-17
Fax: +49-89-899679-79
Email:
