From the North Carolina Biotechnology Center
Kyowa Kirin, a Japan-based global specialty pharmaceutical company, has selected Sanford in Lee County as the location for its first pharmaceutical manufacturing complex in North America.
Kyowa Kirin North America (KKNA) expects to create 102 new jobs and will invest $200 million in the new complex which will manufacture Phase 2 and 3 clinical products, as well as be the commercial launch site for products developed at its parent company’s sites outside the United States.
“We will incorporate industry best practices, automation and the latest digital technologies at this facility – creating advanced capabilities and a Center of Excellence for training our global manufacturing workforce,” said Paul Testa, executive vice president and head of supply chain and manufacturing, KKNA.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Economic Investment Committee approved economic incentives worth about $2 million over 12 years, adding to local incentives approved earlier in February by the Sanford City Council and Lee County Board of Commissioners that total about $8.7 million toward the purchase of land, equipment for the facility, and building of the Sanford site. Over the 12-year state grant, the state said the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $1.05 billion.
“I am pleased to welcome Kyowa Kirin to Lee County for its next phase of growth,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “North Carolina’s leadership as a life sciences powerhouse for research and manufacturing aligns well with this company’s reputation for creating innovative treatments, and we believe they will find great success here.”
Kyowa Kirin uses cutting-edge research and expertise in antibody engineering to advance new discoveries to help patients and families living with serious and rare diseases for which there are currently no adequate treatments. North America is the fastest-growing region in the company and markets three first-in-class medicines across three disease areas – hematological cancers, rare diseases, and neurological conditions.
To read the entire article, please visit the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s website.
