RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Life science giant Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies is adding more jobs and manufacturing capacity in the Triangle.

Some 145 new jobs – including researchers and scientists – will be added to support an 89,000 square foot expansion of its BioProcess Innovation Center in Morrisville. The expansion will double the size of that facility, the company announced.

Fujifilm Diosynth is already committed to building a $2 billion plant in Holly Springs and an expansion totalling $64 million announced in 2020. The innovation center opened in 2016.

The news is the latest in a series of investments boosting North Carolina’s growing life sciences industry which added commitments of some 4,000 jobs and $4 billion in investment last year.

Biotech’s big year in NC: Nearly $4B in investment, more than 4,800 jobs in 2021

The company’s existing plant makes more than 60 products, including treatments for prostate cancer, hereditary diseases and a potential coronavirus vaccine created by Novavax. Former President Donald Trump visited the plant in 2020 to tout his administration’s vaccine development program.

“As leaders in process development, we are delighted to be adding this additional capacity to support our growing pipeline of customers,” said Christine Vannais, chief operating officer, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies in RTP, said in the announcement.

“The cutting-edge laboratory equipment and automation tools, combined with the deep technical expertise of our scientific community will allow us to better serve our partners to rapidly generate and assess data to understand complex molecules, along with the processes used in their manufacture,” he added.

What the average pay for the new jobs and the amount of the investment in additional capacity were not disclosed.

The Holly Springs plant will create about 725 jobs between 2024 and 2028, according to an agreement between the company and the state Department of Commerce. The firm already has more than 600 employees in the Triangle.

More coverage:

  • Fujifilm picks Holly Springs for $2B drug manufacturing facility, hundreds of jobs
  • Fujifilm to expand manufacturing plant
https://wraltechwire.com/2020/02/28/another-biopharma-expansion-is-underway-in-nc-54m-manufacturing-plant/