Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, a 4-year-old Princeton, N.J., company developing drugs with specialized delivery technologies to improve treatments for mental illness, pain and addiction, plans to invest nearly $20 million over five years to establish a manufacturing and R&D hub in Durham County that will create 52 new jobs.

The company, which is expecting approval in May 2016 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin selling its first product, specializes in non-pill therapeutics to combat opioid addiction, pain and chronic mental illnesses.

Braeburn, a privately owned firm held by a venture capital group called Apple Tree Partners, is targeting a therapeutic niche with long-acting dosing mechanisms that enhance treatment options for people who aren’t well served by pills or other standard forms of administration.

Braeburn’s most recent innovation is Probuphine, a six-month buprenorphine implant to treat opioid dependence. That’s the candidate the FDA is expected to act on by May 27, 2016.

The company’s president and CEO is Behshad Sheldon, one of the Apple Tree venture partners. She’s a veteran of more than 25 years leading pharmaceutical development and commercialization globally.

Bringing good jobs to Durham County

“We are excited to be building our state-of the-art manufacturing and research facility in Durham,” said Craig Brown, Braeburn’s vice president of commercialization and manufacturing. “Our vision is to provide patients with addiction, chronic pain, and serious mental illness with medications to treat their chronic disease. We are looking forward to bringing jobs and becoming part of the business community in Durham, where together, we can change the lives of the patients we serve.”

The average salary at the new facility, to be in the Tech 7 building in the Keystone Technology Park at Davis Drive and Hopson Road, will be $75,769 a year. Durham County’s overall average annual wage is $66,913.

Governor Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary John Skvarla III and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. announced the company’s plans in a joint news release.

They noted that Braeburn’s recruitment to North Carolina was made possible in part by a performance-based grant of up to $100,000 from the One North Carolina Fund. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance in support of local governments creating jobs and attracting economic investment. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for grant funds. All One NC Fund grants require local governmental entities to provide matching support.

Longfellow Real Estate Partners and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center were also key partners in the project.

Other organizations cited in the news release include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, Durham County and the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce.

Company plans ‘pioneering work’ here

“Braeburn Pharmaceuticals joins a long list of life sciences companies that have made North Carolina the nation’s No. 1 state for biomanufacturing jobs,” said McCrory. “This company and the pioneering work it plans to do here will make a difference in the lives of patients and families around the world while also adding value to the economy and community of the Research Triangle.”

“North Carolina’s leadership in manufacturing and life sciences makes it the ideal location for bio-manufacturers like Braeburn Pharmaceuticals,” added Skvarla. “The most promising names in this industry are here because nothing compares to our state’s strong biotechnology infrastructure, world-class talent and growth-oriented business climate.”

Longfellow, which is also developing the Durham Innovation District (Durham.ID), purchased Keystone
in late 2015, making Longfellow’s 1.4 million-square-foot portfolio of science and technology space one of
North Carolina’s largest.

“Longfellow is privileged to partner with a life sciences company as pioneering and exciting as
Braeburn,” said Longfellow managing director Jessica Brock.

“We also salute Braeburn for choosing the Research Triangle region, with its remarkable universities, array of companies, talent pipeline and quality of life. And we’re honored to have worked with the State of North Carolina and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to put together this outstanding win. As with all our clients, we are eager to provide the highest level of support and creativity as Braeburn grows and succeeds.”

(C) N.C. Biotechnology Center