Washington State Bags New Biotech Deal

The state of Washington announced recently a sizeable economic development win that involved successfully attracting biotech company Berlex, Inc. to build its $60 million commercial drug plant in the state. It will be the largest commercial biotech drug plant in Washington, taking up 16 acres and housing 70 local employees when it opens its doors in 2007, growing to roughly 180 by 2009.

The site will be established in the southern part of Snohomish County which has built a reputation of luring biotech companies with cheap land and office space. The county currently holds about 25 percent of the state's total biotech jobs, which continues to diversify its industrial base once dominated by the cyclical aerospace business.

Berlex will use this facility for the production of its cancer treatment Leukine which will be increased in use because of its newly discovered indication against intestinal disorder Crohn's disease, currently entering Phase III clinical trials.

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