As part of its strategy for global growth and the enhancement of internal expertise focusing on biotech, Olon has unveiled its two-year plan for investment in the Settimo Torinese Biotech Center in Italy.

The plan, worth €30 million, will be implemented over the following two-year period, with the aim of significantly expanding the capacity and expertise of the Settimo Torinese Biotech Hub. The Hub is a strategic asset for the group’s global manufacturing network, because, relying on experience gained over more than 50 years, it represents some of the most extensive know-how on microbial fermentation in Europe.

The investment will support a structured and focused plan with the aim of expanding capacity and capability to develop and produce therapeutic peptides obtained through biotechnology. Olon is developing strong know-how for the development of rDNA peptides and proteins, consolidating its expertise to produce the peptide target quickly and easily. The goal is to further strengthen the offer to global clients in terms of complex recombinant peptides with high efficiency, repeatability, and purity, at high levels of consistency.

The plan includes several milestones. The first involves creating a line for producing peptides in small volumes, typically those administered by injection and to support the early clinical stages of the development of new molecules, for which small quantities are needed. One part of this milestone will be dedicated to the R&D department in Settimo, to strengthen its capability to develop new molecules in the peptides portfolio, which will then be scaled in the site’s systems. 

A second step involves creating a system designed for large volumes of peptides, typically indicated for diseases that are widespread throughout the world.

The new lines will be used to produce proprietary products and for CDMO services.

The investment will have significant impacts on employment and will involve the expansion of highly qualified roles, particularly in the strategic departments of quality, control, and research.

In line with the overall strategy of strengthening the R&D centers within the globally located sites, the R&D structure dedicated to the production line will also be strengthened and enhanced to fully support the peptide development and scale-up phase from the pilot phase.

The new investment is in addition to another significant expansion plan for the Settimo Torinese Biotech Center dedicated to the production of proteins by fermentation, already announced in September 2021, and currently underway, which includes upgrading and expanding existing areas, as in this case, and the construction of new, greenfield project plants and departments.