Altana Inc. cuts ribbon on Hicksville expansion

Pharmaceutical firm Altana Inc., a division of Germany-based Altana Pharma, has cut the ribbon on an expansion that nearly doubles the size of its Hicksville factory to 100,000 square feet.

The firm added 43,000 square feet to the facility, which employs about 150 people. Altana employs an additional 350 people in Melville.

Altana said its Fougera division will produce a wide range of antibiotics, ophthalmics and steroids at the site. The firm's PharmaDerm division also will use the facility.

CEO Paul McGarty said the firm's robust product pipeline led to the expansion of the Hicksville operation at 55 Cantiague Road.

In 2004, Altana produced 1.3 million kilos of product, or nearly 50 million units, at the Hicksville plant.

The facility now has an additional 30 percent-40 percent production capacity, which the firm said would support its projected growth in the future.

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