Novartis has completed a CHF 60 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in Schweizerhalle, Switzerland, to increase production capacity for the anti-hypertensive Diovan (valsartan).

The company has invested more than CHF 1 billion in its production facilities in Switzerland since the creation of Novartis in 1996, contributing to the growth of Novartis as well as creating jobs and stimulating economic growth in the Basel region, Novartis informed.

"The expansion of this important Swiss production site is due to growing patient demand for our range of Diovan products," Andreas Rummelt, head of Global Technical Operations, Novartis Pharma AG said adding, "The ongoing development of new strengths and combinations, as well as the clinical development of new treatment options, underscores the need to be flexible and ready to support future growth. This expansion also highlights our continued commitment to investment in Switzerland."

Diovan, which belongs to the class of blood pressure-lowering medicines called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), is the world's leading ARB and the second largest selling antihypertensive agent. Co-Diovan, a leading combination product for high blood pressure, provides patients who need additional blood pressure control greater flexibility beyond that provided with Diovan or the product's second active ingredient, the anti-hypertensive agent hydrochlorothiazide, alone. Diovan offers powerful double-digit blood pressure reductions and superior tolerability, patient persistency and patient compliance. In addition, Diovan has proven cardio-protective benefits beyond lowering blood pressure.

Discovered and developed by Novartis in Switzerland, Diovan is approved and available in more than 80 countries for the first-line treatment of hypertension, and for heart failure in more than 50 countries. In the United States and Switzerland, among other countries, Diovan is indicated for the treatment of heart failure in patients who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors, another type of anti-hypertensive treatment.