$135 million dollar expansion adds 150 new jobs, retains additional 45
ALACHUA, FL – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Nanotherapeutics, Inc. is expanding in the City of Alachua. Nanotherapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that currently employs 45 and will create 150 jobs at a manufacturing facility with a capital investment of $135 million. The manufacturing facility was created as a result of a biodefense contract awarded in March 2013 by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Governor Scott said, “The expansion of Nanotherapeutics in Alachua is great news for Florida families. Since taking office, my priority has been to turn Florida around into a place for business. Florida’s unemployment rate has dropped below the national average to 7 percent and last month, nearly 17,000 jobs were created. This expansion is adding to our state’s success and we know IT’S WORKING in Florida.”
Headquartered in Alachua and operating in Progress Corporate Park, Nanotherapeutics began as a start-up in the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator. Nanotherapeutics will integrate into a new state-of-the-art facility with flexible, single use, disposable equipment that can provide the military’s national security requirements for Medical Counter Measures.
The contract was granted to Nanotherapeutics, as the prime contractor and its industry partners after a highly competitive bid process. The ultimate goal for the award is to reduce the overall time and cost associated with the development and manufacturing of the Food and Drug Administration approved Medical Counter Measures.
The overall contract was awarded for $135 million, with additional options included that could bring the total award to $358 million. The funding is to be used to establish a Medical Countermeasures Advanced Development and Manufacturing (MCM ADM) capability for the Department of Defense (DOD). This will enable faster and more effective development of medical countermeasures to protect and treat military populations against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks and outbreaks of naturally occurring emerging and genetically engineering infectious diseases.
Nanotherapeutics has assembled a world class team of partners from throughout the U.S. to apply new biomanufacturing technologies with existing manufacturing capabilities for small molecule and biologic products. They will provide the DOD with the ability to rapidly respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks and outbreaks of naturally occurring and genetically engineered infectious diseases.
Some of the nation’s most highly regarded research centers are located around the state, making Florida’s life science industry one of the best in the country. Nearly 1,000 biotech, pharmaceutical and medical devices companies, and more than 44,000 healthcare establishments are in Florida.
“Florida’s life science sector continues to expand and Nanotherapeutics’ decision to stay in Alachua to expand their manufacturing facility is going to help us grow even more,” said Gray Swoope, Secretary of Commerce and president & CEO of Enterprise Florida. “They considered expanding in California, Washington DC, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas but they chose Florida. Florida has an excellent workforce, great tax benefits, the necessary resources to succeed and a great lifestyle. We will continue to promote Florida as the greatest place for business, and I am excited for Nanotherapeutics’ expansion. We look forward to their future Florida successes.”
The project was made possible thanks to strong partnerships at the state and local levels. Along with Enterprise Florida, Inc., Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Gainesville Council for Economic Outreach and the Department of Economic Opportunity worked with Nanotherapeutics to make this expansion possible.
“The Innovation Gainesville (iG) economic development plan clearly identifies the life sciences as a top opportunity for job growth,” said John Carlson, Principal of Charles Perry Partners, Inc. and chairman of the Council for Economic Outreach. “Nanotherapeutics’ brings that opportunity to reality and demonstrates that we are committed to growing jobs, growing companies and growing opportunities right here in Alachua County.”
Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper said, “Alachua is a great place to do business and we have worked hard to create the most business-friendly environment we can. Nanotherapeutics’ expansion is another great example of growing our own. We are glad they chose to grow in Alachua and bring 150 jobs to our community.”
“It is very exciting that Nanotherapeutics Inc , one of our very own local start up technology companies, will continue to expand and invest in our community,” said Lee Pinkoson , incoming Chair of the Alachua Board of County Commissioners. “Alachua County is pleased to be a government partner and we look forward to the new jobs and manufacturing opportunity that this project creates.”
About Nanotherapeutics
Nanotherapeutics, Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company with a major focus on developing a diversified proprietary pipeline of products having both biodefense and medical applications. Products under development include biodefense medical countermeasures, CNS, wound healing, addiction and pain, oncology, anti-infectives, vaccines and orthopedics. The Company has one FDA cleared injectable biologic, NanoFUSE® DBM used by orthopedic surgeons as bone graft filler. Nanotherapeutics has in-house cGMP manufacturing, formulation, and expertise in pre-clinical and clinical product development as well as clinical trial management to support its products. Established in 1999, the Company employs several proprietary platform technologies to manipulate and enhance the properties of drug candidates.
About the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce
Formed in 1924, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in the Gainesville area. Representing over 1,100 members that employ more than 70,000 employees, the Chamber firmly believes that thriving business builds a thriving community. The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce is 5-star accredited by the United States Chamber of Commerce, putting it in the top 1% of all Chambers nationwide. Learn more at www.GainesvilleChamber.com or call us at 352.334.7100.
Creating Opportunity Through Outreach…
The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce created the Council for Economic Outreach (CEO) to attract new business and investment to Gainesville and help existing businesses grow. CEO markets the assets of the region to the national and international business community. Please visit www.GCEO.com for more information.