NC Biotech Center: Biomanufacturing in the Cards

Things appear to be looking up for biotech in North Carolina. Catch the latest in this article.

What an incredible year it's been," says Dr. Leslie M. Alexandre, president and chief executive officer of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. "Certainly for biomanufacturing in North Carolina, it was a homerun year," Alexandre told Local Tech Wire in an exclusive interview. Dr. Alexandre talked about the substantial progress the Center and other supporters of promoting biotech economic development made in the state in 2003. "It was a year filled with accomplishments," Dr. Alexandre says.

First, this summer, the Golden Leaf Foundation pledged $60 million to support a biotech job training program with additional money from industry and private investors.

Then, the legislature approved the Bond Authority that would help companies buy land and build biomanufacturing plants in return for a guaranteed level of investment and job creation.

Merck then validated both moves to some extent when it committed to building a $300 million plant in Durham to become the first recipient of Bond Authority.

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