Novo Nordisk has awarded a contract to BE&K Engineering and Suitt Construction for a 19,000 square foot expansion of its insulin manufacturing facility in Clayton. The company plans to break ground on the $12 million new addition in June.

"We are pleased to award the contract for the expansion of our facility in Johnston County to BE&K Engineering and Suitt Construction based on their commitment to quality, completion time, and overall project cost containment. The expansion of our highly automated and stringently controlled facility further underscores our level of commitment to serving the insulin needs of people throughout the world who are living with diabetes," said John R. Pratt, general manager, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.

The Clayton manufacturing facility handles the formulation, filling and packaging of Novo Nordisk's genetically engineered insulin preparations. The site is a high-volume, high-speed, integrated facility that supplies the needs of the U.S. and other worldwide markets. The new two-story addition will expand the world-class facility's quality inspection and cold storage capabilities and quality control laboratories. It also will provide additional administrative and employee areas. The expansion will enable Novo Nordisk to meet the ever-increasing demand of the U.S. diabetes market. The American Diabetes Association estimates that 17 million Americans have diabetes. Of that total, 5.9 million people are undiagnosed.

Novo Nordisk owns 254 acres of land, allowing possible future expansion and ensuring the supply and quality of Novo Nordisk's products to the growing marketplace. The target for completion of the project is in early 2004.