The company’s Copenhagen manufacturing site will undergo a gradual,
multi-phased closure over the next eight to 10 years.
The company does not expect any employment impact on its Copenhagen
manufacturing site for the next three to four years as part of this decision.
Copenhagen, Denmark, 6 May 2025 – Xellia Pharmaceuticals, a global leader in the manufacturing of fermentation-based anti-infective active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), announced plans for a gradual closure and transition of its manufacturing operations in Copenhagen, Denmark, to facilities outside of Denmark. The phased migration of the company’s anti-infective products will take place over eight to 10 years to ensure a continuous, stable supply of critical medicines, culminating in the eventual retirement of its Copenhagen manufacturing site.
“Xellia Pharmaceuticals is committed to safeguarding the responsible production and reliable supply of our critical anti-infectives for patients worldwide who rely on them in the fight against infections. Resilient operations are key to ensuring we can continue to deliver on this for many years to come,” said Michael Kocher, Chief Executive Officer, Xellia Pharmaceuticals.
“We invest in this extensive evaluation and transition process to future-proof our supply chain, having concluded that, despite exhaustive efforts to navigate constraints and sustain local production, our current environment is unfortunately unsustainable in the long term”.
This planned operational transition out of Copenhagen reflects Xellia Pharmaceuticals’ ongoing efforts to address the challenges of intense price pressure, rising operational expenses, and inherent market dynamics within the anti-infectives sector. The company is now transforming its setup significantly to enhance long-term manufacturing sustainability and supply chain resilience. Several potential locations within and beyond the organization’s current manufacturing network are being evaluated as part of the transition.
A transfer of the antibiotic API Vancomycin Hydrochloride out of Copenhagen to other manufacturing facilities within its network will initialize the phasing of supply chain adjustments. This is set to be completed in the course of 2028. A geographic scenario detailing of the remaining products manufactured in Copenhagen is underway in parallel.
“This marks the beginning of a transition that will span nearly a decade and will require ongoing support from and for our people, who have always been our greatest strength,” said Michael Kocher, Chief Executive Officer, Xellia Pharmaceuticals.
“We are committed to transparency in our communication about Xellia’s future planning efforts, and the fact that this is an extensive timeline with no planned employment impact on the Copenhagen production site for the next three to four years underlines this, as we look to support one another through the upcoming changes.”
Xellia Pharmaceuticals manufactures and commercializes anti-infective Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Finished Dosage Forms (FDFs) for serious and often life-threatening conditions. A number of the APIs the company manufactures are listed on the (EU) Union List of Critical Medicines1 and the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines2.
The Danish pharmaceutical company’s global presence and supply of essential anti-infectives are supported by its manufacturing operations in Copenhagen, Denmark; Budapest, Hungary; and Taizhou, China.
1 Union list of critical medicines | European Medicines Agency (EMA)
2 WHO Model List of Essential Medicines - 23rd list, 2023
About Xellia Pharmaceuticals
Xellia Pharmaceuticals is a global leader in fermentation-based non-beta-lactam APIs, providing anti-infective treatments for serious and often life-threatening conditions. Xellia has an extensive heritage in developing, manufacturing, and commercializing anti-infective products.
Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Xellia Pharmaceuticals has more than 1100 employees globally, including state-of-the-art manufacturing sites in China, Denmark, and Hungary. Its strong market position is built on more than 120 years of pharmaceutical industry experience. Xellia Pharmaceuticals is wholly owned by Novo Holdings A/S since 2013.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Xellia Pharmaceuticals
Andreas Hylleberg Mølleskov, Director, Communications, Branding and Public Affairs
Andreas.Molleskov@xellia.com
+45 53 52 26 23
Simone Lorentzen, Senior Communications Specialist
Simone.Lorentzen@xellia.com
+45 41 93 37 16