Moorrege, Germany
Emeryville, Calif.-based Neurobiological Technologies, Inc. (NTI) opened a new pharmaceutical vivarium in Moorrege, Germany, in winter of 2006. The facility is owned and operated by NTI’s partner, Nordmark Arzneimittel GmbH, and houses Malayan pit vipers for the production of Viprinex®, a drug for the treatment of strokes. The GMP facility currently houses 100 snakes and could eventually contain up to 1,500. The €3.4 million vivarium accommodates the snakes in separate rooms, each with its own air handling system and independent temperature and humidity controls. The snake rooms are maintained at negative pressure in order to prevent the release of any contaminants such as airborne viruses into common areas.
