Sandoz has completed the acquisition of JustEvotec Biologics EU SAS (JEB SAS) from Evotec SE. The deal includes JEB SAS’s development and manufacturing site in Toulouse, France, and an indefinite licence to cutting-edge continuous-manufacturing technology for biosimilars.

Richard Saynor, CEO of Sandoz, said: “Biosimilars are the fastest-growing segment of our pipeline as the need of patients and healthcare systems for these critical medicines continues to grow rapidly. This acquisition is a pivotal step toward advancing our ambition to consolidate our position as the undisputed leader in biosimilars. It gives us greater control over our pipeline development and underscores our unwavering commitment to expanding access to high-quality, affordable biologics for millions of patients worldwide.”

In a statement, Sandoz said acquisition of the fully automated, high throughput continuous manufacturing platform at the Toulouse site “represents a transformative leap in biosimilar production”. It said flexibility, operational efficiency, and cost-effective scalability would be assured by the indefinite license to the technology.

The acquisition complements ongoing investments in Slovenia, reinforcing the Sandoz strategy to build a robust, end-to-end in-house biosimilars network across Europe. The Slovenian site will focus on large-scale fed-batch drug substance manufacturing, while the Toulouse site will specialise in small-scale continuous manufacturing.