Biotech South

UAB Breaks Ground on Big Biomedical Center

A large biotech project is shaping up in Birmingham. The University of Alabama Birmingham broke ground on a new $90 million Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research facility that totals 340,000 square feet initially with plenty of room to expand. The biotech research center is expected to create more than 1,500 jobs and over $100 million in new research funding.

MedImmune Breaks Ground in Maryland

MedImmune has broken ground on its new $85 million R&D/headquarters complex in Gaithersburg. This is Phase One of the three-phase project. The first phase includes an 85,000-square-foot research and development building and an 150,000-square-foot headquarters.

Nashville Area Biotech Center Getting Commitments

The proposed biotech center, located in Cool Springs just south of Nashville, has already received commitments from users well before shovels have gone in the ground. Nashville-based BioMimetic Pharmaceuticals is getting closer to FDA approval of its first product, a tissue regeneration compound. Sam Lynch, who heads up BioMimetic, is one of the organizers of the new biotech center at Cool Springs. Vanderbilt University has announced plans to locate in the center and Virtual Drug Development Inc., has also committed to leasing space at the site. The biotech center got a boost recently when the state announced it would invest nearly $500,000 on infrastructure at the 10-acre site.

Biogen Expanding in Research Triangle

Biogen Inc. is building a new laboratory and more office space at its complex in Research Triangle Park. The Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology company is principally engaged in discovering and developing drugs for human health care through genetic engineering. Founded in 1978 by a group of internationally acclaimed scientists, Biogen is the world's oldest independent biotechnology company. The company is investing $138 million for the expansion of its facilities in RTP.

Wythe-Lederle Expanding Near Research Triangle

One of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies is investing $125 million to expand its Sanford, N.C. facility, creating 250 new jobs. Wyeth-Lederle completed a 40,000-square-foot addition to its facility last year, but is now adding another 115,000 square feet. The expansion, which will give the company a total of 800 employees, makes the company the fourth-largest biotech employer in North Carolina.

Virtual Genetics on Site Search

Stockholm-based Virtual Genetics Laboratory is looking at sites while searching for a partner to establish an operation in the U.S. The Swedish-based company is involved in bioinformatics and looks to land in Boston, Maryland or the Research Triangle Park where similar companies are located. VGL was founded in 1997 to develop technology for data and text mining used in life science research.

Wyeth Expands in St. Louis

Wyeth BioPharma is planning to increase employment at its St. Louis-based pharmaceutical plant by 150 workers. The company is undergoing a second-phase expansion that is expected to cost $230 million. Wyeth makes ReFacto at the plant, a medication for hemophilia.

Elan Announces $40 Million Expansion in Georgia

Elan Corp., a pharmaceutical company based in Dublin, Ireland, is planning a 150,000-square-foot expansion of its Gainesville, Ga. facilities. The $40 million investment will result in an expansion of Elan's pharmaceutical production facility, ultimately providing 100 additional jobs for Georgians. The Gainesville facility recently passed pre-approval inspection by the FDA to manufacture two new pharmaceutical products. Currently the Gainesville facility manufactures millions of doses annually of Verelan and Verelan PM. Elan currently employs approximately 4,500 people worldwide.

Houston Looking to Create Investment Fund

The creation of a life sciences fund is underway in Houston, combining a unique partnership among CEOs of life sciences companies in Texas' largest market. No details have been announced, but the initial plan is to form a coalition of CEOs of local biotech companies to invest in a market-wide venture. The idea is that knowledgeable biotech professionals can identify solid business plans offered by startups. Plans call for $2 million to be raised by Houston-based biotech CEOs and $20 to $30 million from outside investors.

German-based Amaxa Opens Maryland Office

A German biotechnology company has opened an office in Maryland hoping to establish a presence in the U.S. Amaxa is engaged in research and development in gene transfer. Its first product hit the market in May. The company plans to employ 15.