Global pharmaceutical company Noumed announces South Australia will be home of new high-tech manufacturing facility

A global pharmaceutical company has selected South Australia as the location of its first Australian high-tech manufacturing facility.

A global pharmaceutical company has selected Adelaide as the location of its first Australian hi-tech manufacturing facility, which will create hundreds of jobs in the northern suburbs.

Noumed Pharmaceuticals will on Thursday announce plans to build a $85 million state-of-the-art centre next to Parafield Airport at Salisbury South.

The project, which is expected to create 250 jobs during construction and 180 ongoing positions, was secured with a $20 million federal government contribution.

Construction will begin later this year, before opening by 2025.

Noumed’s expansion into Australia will mean 40 million units of tablets, liquids and creams currently manufactured offshore each year will now be made locally.

The centre will produce everything from cold and flu tablets, painkillers and topical creams to prescription and lifesaving medications.

A design picture for a new $85million Noumed manufacturing facility that is going to be built at Salisbury South.

Finance Minister and South Australian Senator Simon Birmingham said the project was “a big win for jobs” and another vote of confidence in South Australia’s hi-tech manufacturing capability.

“SA has a proven track-record of attracting global companies and it’s no coincidence that a global pharmaceutical company like Noumed has chosen SA for the site of its first Australian manufacturing facility,” he said.

“The pandemic has shown us how easily global supply chains can be interrupted, which is why we’re backing manufacturing projects that will boost our sovereign capability to produce critical products such as pharmaceuticals.”

The federal funding was delivered under the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative, which targets priority areas including medical products, space and defence.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said Noumed Pharmaceuticals’ expansion into South Australia was “a big win for jobs” in the state. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Premier Steven Marshall said Noumed will have a strong focus on research and development. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

Premier Steven Marshall said the investment of Noumed and the federal government would strengthen the state’s reputation as an innovation hub.

“Noumed’s presence in SA will do more than just create good local manufacturing jobs,” he said.

“The company will also have a strong focus on research and development, creating job opportunities across the workforce for scientists, pharmacy graduates, logistics experts and engineers, as well as opportunities for collaboration with our local research institutions.”

The pharma giant’s local facility will mirror its UK-based operations and provide a variety of other services beyond manufacturing, including intellectual property licensing and research and development.

Noumed Australia managing director Mark Thulborne said the company would support Australia’s wholesaling and pharmacy network as well as other industries, such as packaging manufacturing, transport and logistics.

“This will see important, improved resilience in the Australian pharmaceutical supply chain, especially where fractions of supply have been impacted,” he said.

“We will be developing a working partnership with research and development entities, including universities, creating opportunities for education and a skilled workforce across science, engineering, logistics and pharmacy.”