HQ Team
April 10, 2025: Novo Nordisk will invest 6.4 billion reais ($1.05 billion) in Brazil’s Monte Claros to expand its production of injectable treatments for people living with obesity and chronic diseases.
The expansion will significantly increase capacity at the site with additional “aseptic production processes,” a warehouse and a new quality control laboratory, according to an April 7 statement.
Aseptic manufacturing is a process that produces sterile products by sterilizing materials and filling them into sterile containers under controlled conditions to prevent contamination.
It is one of the largest pharmaceutical investments in Brazil’s history. The facility will cater to multiple product formats, including GLP-1 products, and feature advanced, future-proof technology.
‘Current and future demand’
“With this expansion of the Montes Claros site we further strengthen our global production capacity, supporting our ability to meet current and future demand for innovative medicines around the world,” said Henrik Wulf, executive vice president, CMC & Product Supply, Novo Nordisk.
Construction work has begun and is expected to be completed in 2028. The investment is expected to create 600 permanent jobs upon completion of the facilities.
“This announcement represents a historic milestone for Novo Nordisk in Brazil and reinforces our commitment to innovation and excellence in the country as we continue to invest in this strategic production site,” says Reinaldo Costa, corporate vice president of Novo Nordisk Production Montes Claros.
LEED certification
The facility will be designed with a focus on sustainability and is targeting a LEED certification.
Low-carbon construction materials will be used where possible and 100% of the facility’s power supply will come from solar photovoltaics.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a globally recognized green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that assesses and verifies buildings and projects for their sustainability practices, covering areas like energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor environmental quality.
In addition, the facility will use innovative water strategies, including rainwater harvesting and reuse for production, according to the Novo statement.
Novo Nordisk has more than 2,000 employees in Motes Claros currently. It is present in two states, with an administrative office in São Paulo and a production site in Montes Claros.
The Danish drugmaker warned in February that it expects sales growth of 16 to 24% this year, which is down from 26% in 2024 — most probably due to supply issues for its weight-loss medicine Wegovy.
