Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, the pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson, has chosen Reig Jofre to manufacture its coronavirus vaccine on a large scale. Reig Jofre's new plant in Sant Joan Despí, which will be operational from the first quarter of 2021, will be where the Catalan pharmaceutical company will be responsible for the formulation, filling, and packaging of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate Ad26.COV2-S, which will be distributed by Janssen.
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Reig Jofre's new facilities will specialize in injectable products, integrating state-of-the-art isolator technology and highly automated processes that guarantee the highest level of quality and safety in aseptic production. The company began the project in 2018, with an investment of 30 million euros, with the aim of tripling its capacity and increasing energy efficiency and production. The manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine involves an additional investment, already initiated, which will ensure compliance with biosafety levels and the requirements of the vaccine candidate.
After months of evaluation and technical work by the Reig Jofre and Janssen teams, the signing of the agreement between both companies will allow the production of the first batches of this vaccine, still in the research phase, once all approvals have been received from the corresponding health authorities. The Catalan company points out that both its experience and the availability of a new plant will allow for a rapid and safe supply.
"We are very proud to see that Reig Jofre's continued effort to invest in technology and industrial capabilities will contribute at this time to making the COVID-19 vaccine available in a large number of countries," defends Reig Jofre's CEO, Ignasi Biosca. "The fact that we have been chosen by Janssen as one of its partners for the production of its vaccine candidate Ad26.COV2-S will give Reig Jofre the opportunity to demonstrate the strategic value of having a solid, competitive, and technologically advanced industry," he remarks.
Founded in 1929 in Barcelona, Reig Jofre is dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and food supplements. It has more than 1,100 employees, four development and production centers in Europe, direct sales in seven countries, and more than 130 commercial partners in 70 countries worldwide. Last year, it recorded sales of 200 million euros and a profit of 4.9 million euros.