Flad Architects Congratulates Novartis on Receiving ISPE's Facility of the Year Award
Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 11, 2013 -- The International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) has awarded Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics the 2013 Facility of the Year Award (FOYA) for their United States Flu Cell Culture Facility (USFCC). The facility features a process that breaks with the 50-year tradition of utilizing eggs for the method of growing the influenza virus. In addition, Novartis required highly collaborative environments and a strategy for enabling the facility to handle pathogens with a higher bio-safety level than the seasonal influenza strains. This strategy allows for the USFCC’s bulk production and QC testing laboratory to rapidly transform from low containment into high containment mode in case of a declared pandemic. The USFCC facility was collaboratively designed by Flad Architects, Jacobs Engineering, CRB, and Affiliated Engineers.
Novartis is a world leader in providing healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Through a public/private partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the US Department of Health and Human Services, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics has established a new, state-of-the-art, greenfield vaccine manufacturing site. The award-winning facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina, represents a breakthrough use of innovative technology and development of a large-scale manufacturing process to produce seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines. This innovation breaks the tradition of utilizing eggs for the method of growing the virus in favor of a groundbreaking cell culture technology. These advantages include process raw materials that are readily available and not threatened by pandemic events as well as closed-system bioreactors that reduce the required biosafety level for the manufacturing space. The proprietary technology at the facility enables flexible and fast start-up of vaccine manufacturing for seasonal influenza vaccines as well as offering rapid response to potential pandemic influenza threats.
Having first garnered the Process Innovation category award (one of six categories) for the project’s “breakthrough use of innovative technology and development of a large scale manufacturing process to produce seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines,” it was announced on November 4, 2013, that the facility was the overall Facility of the Year Award winner.
About Novartis
Novartis is a world leader providing healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. For the Novartis Group, the US is a major center of research and development (R&D), manufacturing, sales, and marketing. Their US organization is made up of six divisions. The achievements by the companies that make up each division in the US contribute to the Novartis Group’s overall success as one of the highest-ranked pharmaceutical and healthcare companies in the world.
About Facility of the Year Award (FOYA)
FOYA showcases the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry’s accomplishments in facility design, construction, and operation while sharing the development of new applications of technology and cutting-edge approaches that it is adopting. The FOYA program celebrates the shared commitment and dedication of individuals working for worldwide companies to enhance patient health and safety through innovation and advancements in pharma-ceutical manufacturing technology. For more information about the Novartis project as well as the FOYA program, visit http://www.FacilityoftheYear.org.
About Flad Architects
Flad Architects designs environments that enhance human potential. As a strategic planning and design firm, Flad’s design solutions reflect an understanding of how people work and interact, helping organizations devoted to discovery, healing, and learning do what they do best. Their dedication to outstanding client service and technical excellence has resulted in long-term relationships and repeat assignments for diverse clients nationwide and internationally.
About Jacobs Engineering
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is one of the world’s largest and most diverse providers of professional technical services. They offer full-spectrum support to industrial, commercial, and government clients across multiple markets. Services include scientific and specialty consulting as well as all aspects of engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance.
About CRB
CRB is a global design and construction firm that assists advanced technology organizations to plan, design, build, and commission processes and facilities. By utilizing innovation, technology and process expertise, we are able to provide clients enhanced value, productivity, and return on investment.
About Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (AEI)
AEI is known for leadership, collaboration, and coordination in a collection of affiliated disciplines integrated in comprehensive support of their clients’ goals. AEI is an industry leader in project team optimization and project delivery efficiency. Projects are integrated laterally across offices, bringing the best talent to the table for any given project, regardless of location. AEI’s leadership in the development of project delivery technologies allows immediacy in the field while enhancing productivity in the office.
Mary Hirsch, Flad Architects, http://www.flad.com, +1 (608) 232-1275, [email protected]
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