Columbus, OH – Governor Ted Strickland today applauded a decision by Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to expand operations at its West Chester Township (Butler County) facility.
Amylin’s subsidiary Amylin Ohio LLC is planning to expand construction at its facility where it intends to manufacture exenatide long-acting release (LAR), a diabetes drug candidate currently in clinical development. The expansion is dependent on continued progress of exenatide LAR through its development process. This expansion is expected to result in the creation of up to 500 jobs over the next three years.
“I’m pleased that Amylin will grow its biopharmaceutical operations in Ohio and provide high tech jobs for our workforce,” said Governor Strickland. “Amylin is a significant partner in Ohio’s growing bioscience industry and will undoubtedly serve as a blueprint for companies dedicated to developing innovative therapies in the future.”
Amylin is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines. Amylin currently markets two first-in-class medicines for diabetes, SYMLIN® (pramlintide acetate) injection and BYETTA® (exenatide) injection. Amylin’s Ohio facility will manufacture exenatide LAR, a long-acting release version of BYETTA currently in clinical development. Exenatide LAR may greatly enhance the convenience of managing diabetes by requiring only once-weekly administration.
“Amylin’s Ohio manufacturing facility is an important investment in our mission to deliver life-changing medicines to the patients we serve,” said Daniel M. Bradbury, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amylin Pharmaceuticals. “We believe Ohio has a favorable business environment and is an ideal location for investing in our company’s future growth. I would also like to commend Governor Strickland and Lt. Governor Fisher for their personal involvement and strong support of Amylin throughout the process of finalizing our expansion plan.”
The State of Ohio, local communities and business partners have been supportive of Amylin’s expansion plans. Among these partnerships, BioOhio, Ohio’s bioscience membership and development organization, was instrumental in connecting Amylin with workforce resources and other established bioscience companies throughout the state during its initial decision to build a facility in West Chester and in making its recent decision to expand.
In addition, the State of Ohio, through the Ohio Department of Development, and the local communities have committed more than $117 million in statutory benefits and financial assistance for the project based on Amylin’s expected total investment of approximately $400 million.
“We are pleased that the State of Ohio can assist Amylin in its plans to grow and manufacture life-saving therapies for people living with diabetes worldwide,” said Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, who also serves as director of the Ohio Department of Development. “This is the result of a very successful public-private partnership between Amylin, the State of Ohio and the county and local community that will serve as a new partnership model for economic development in the Ohio Department of Development. We will continue this partnership to assist the company in meeting its timeline for growth and the commercialization of its products.”
Local officials, including: Butler County Commissioners Mike Fox, Greg Jolivette, and Chuck Furmon; State Senator Gary Cates; State Representative Bill Coley; and the West Chester Township Board of Trustees all played key roles by committing more than $30 million in local grants and abatements in support of Amylin’s expansion.
“Amylin’s expansion in West Chester provides a tremendous boost to Butler County and the state’s biosciences industry,” said Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox. “Amylin is exactly the type of high-tech employer that we like to see growing here in southwest Ohio.”
Butler County Commission President Greg Jolivette said, “This is a very important investment for us in high technology. Amylin’s decision validates Butler County as a site for biotechnology manufacturing and the quality of our workforce. For a second time, the company has confirmed that it believes that we can provide the professionals with the skill sets that they require.”
West Chester Board of Trustees President George Lang adds, “When West Chester opened the Union Centre Boulevard interchange a decade ago, it was to become a location for not only regional, but global technology companies such as Amylin. I would like to thank the Strickland Administration for its efforts in supporting this significant investment in our community.”
The company’s plans for expansion include additional construction at the facility, and the acquisition of pharmaceutical filling and sterilization machinery and other production line and distribution equipment. Amylin anticipates its manufacturing facility will be complete by the end of 2008.