Vifor Pharma at the St.Gallen site

Vifor Pharma's presence in St. Gallen goes back to the St. Gallen Hecht Pharmacy, which was founded in 1872 by Caspar Friedrich Hausmann. Vifor Pharma has been based in Sittertobel since the 1950s. In the last 20 years, the site has been greatly expanded and sustained investment has been made in the modernization and expansion of the production facilities. Infrastructure projects such as the new production building and the Multicube demonstrate the long-term commitment to the site. Vifor Pharma is one of the largest employers in the city and region with around 300 employees in St. Gallen.

Global production of active ingredients

Global active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production for iron-based products and phosphate binders takes place in St. Gallen. The production volume is a good 1,000 tons per year, with production running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Iron is extracted from ore to produce the API for Vifor Pharma's iron-based products. The company obtains this from long-standing suppliers who provide it with the highest quality iron for further processing and production.

Security of supply guaranteed thanks to new ferric chloride plant

There is a high unmet need in the area of iron deficiency. One in three people worldwide is affected by iron deficiency, and the market for corresponding therapies has grown considerably over the last 25 years. Accordingly, Vifor Pharma has expanded its production capacities for the production of active ingredients for its own intravenous iron preparations. Production volumes have doubled in the last six years. Thanks to the plant that went into operation at the beginning of 2021, Vifor Pharma produces ferric chloride itself in an efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing process. The quantity in stock is constantly adjusted to the current market situation and suppliers' ability to deliver. Vifor Pharma's aspiration and goal is to always guarantee the availability of medicines on the market so that patients receive the therapies they need without interruption.

From iron ore to finished iron preparations

The API manufacturing process is the core competence of Vifor Pharma in St. Gallen: High-tech innovation in the interplay of engineering and research. In a chemical reactor, the iron powder is oxidized to ferric chloride. This is the raw material from which Vifor Pharma produces the active ingredients for its iron therapies. In the subsequent manufacturing process, the base material is modified and usually mixed with carbohydrates, which are mainly used for the stability of the active ingredient. The resulting solution is atomized into droplets, dried and further processed as a powder. To ensure the best possible quality, the products are stored and transported under strictly controlled conditions. Long-standing partners process the powder into injection solutions or tablets and package the medicine