Prior to Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin 100 years ago, almost half of all deaths were caused by infections. Fleming’s petri-dish experiments and the resulting development of modern antibiotics have added an average of 23 years to human life expectancy and are estimated to save millions of lives each year.
Sandoz, the Swiss pharmaceuticals company, is one of the last producers of this vital medicine in Europe. Its €150 million ($168 million) factory in the Alpine town of Kundl, Austria, is the continent’s only fully integrated antibiotic manufacturing facility, capable of producing the active ingredients and turning it into medication ready for patients.
