The UCB Group will build a pilot biotechnical plant in Braine-l'Alleud. This 65 million euro investment will create 100 jobs in the short term. It will become part of the competitive Wallonia BioWin hub.

This pilot plant will act as a link between the laboratory and the production line. Rather than have recourse to a third party, UCB has opted to construct this plant on the Braine-l’Alleud site in order to speed up the availability of drugs to treat serious diseases affecting the neurological and immune systems. These drugs are earmarked to replace 5 current flagship products of the Group by 2020 when their patent runs out.

This will be the first UCB pilot plant in the pharmacobiological sector. "This plant will reinforce our Belgian base and our willingness to concentrate on state-of-the-art biotechnology", explained Managing Director, Roch Doliveux.

The plant should be operational from 2012 and provide employment for 100 people in the short term. In the longer term, it should spawn a genuine production line on the Braine site.

The Wallonia Region has provided 9.62 million euros in support in the form of an investment grant.

(Belga)