NOVARTIS WILL BUILD RAW MATERIALS PLANT IN CHINA

Novartis plans to build a raw materials plant in China, the company reportedly said recently.

The plant is to be Novartis' first such facility in China, and would manufacture raw materials for leukemia, epilepsy and hypertension drugs. It also would make raw materials available for sale on the global market, according to Chinese media reports.

The Basel, Switzerland-based drug firm already has laid the foundation for the plant, which is due to start operating at the end of 2007. The plant is located in Suzhou City, which is located in eastern China. Novartis plans to spend $83 million to build the plant, according to reports.