Intervet/Schering Plough expands vaccine manufacturing facility

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has opened a specialised filling and freeze-drying unit for veterinary vaccines at its Biosciences Center Boxmeer in the Netherlands.

The opening of the Central Filling and Freeze-drying Department was performed by her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, Maxime Verhagen, and other guests.

The extension of the Central Filling and Freeze-drying Department, of which the construction started in September 2008 at a total investment of US$ 18 Million (€ 13 Million), has been designed to meet the latest requirements related to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) and brings all freeze-dried vaccine activities at Biosciences Center Boxmeer together in one building.

In the state-of-the-art facility, the latest technology has been implemented, e.g. rapid transfer port technology to connect the filling line to the vaccine bulk tank as well as fully automated systems for the loading of the freeze-dryer.

The new filling line has a maximum speed of 24,000 glass vials per hour and the freeze-dryer can process 136,000 vials per batch. The Central Filling and Freeze-drying Department employs approximately 65 people and produces primarily freeze-dried vaccines for companion animals (dogs, cats), cattle, swine, horses and poultry. The new unit has been certified last July and vaccine production of market batches started in September 2010.

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