RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Inc. today announces plans for a new pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility for parenteral -- or intravenous -- oncology treatments. Eisai has a number of drugs in development for patients with cancer.
“Oncology is one of Eisai’s long-standing therapeutic areas of focus, supporting our human health care mission to increase benefits to patients and their families and satisfy unmet medical needs,” said Lonnel Coats, President and COO, Eisai Inc. “Our plans for the new facility in RTP demonstrate Eisai’s global commitment to oncology and patients around the world.”
The new $90 million, approximately 65,000 square foot facility will encompass aseptic processing suites, laboratories and other support functions. In addition, a separate $15 million central utilities building is planned to supply power, steam, chilled water and compressed air to the existing operations and the new parenteral facility. Groundbreaking is expected in the fall and completion is anticipated in three years with operations beginning in 2009. The new facilities will lead to 59 new jobs over the next three years and a total of 84 new jobs over the next five years.
“For nearly 10 years, Eisai has been a valued member of the community, investing in Research Triangle Park and providing job opportunities for hard- working North Carolinians,” said North Carolina Governor Mike Easley. “We are pleased that Eisai, once again, has chosen to research, develop and manufacture high-quality medicines here in Durham County.”
“We are excited to expand our operations in RTP, where our high compliance standards will be instrumental for global regulatory approvals and production of our first anticipated oncology product,” said Lou Arp, Vice President, Production Operations. “The exceptional growth of the company, fueled by our talented and dedicated employees, has led us to expand in North Carolina not once, but three times since 2001.”
The existing facility encompasses approximately 190,000 square feet and is devoted to manufacturing Aricept(R) (donepezil hydrochloride tablets) and Aciphex(R) (rabeprazole sodium) tablets as well as formulation research and development and manufacturing of compounds for use in clinical trials.
“The new buildings will complement the existing R&D operations and enhance our capability to develop and produce intravenous drug product in support of our clinical development programs in oncology,” said Ray Wood, Vice President of Pharmaceutical and Analytical Research and Development, Eisai Inc.
Rick Weddle, President and CEO, Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, added, “We are delighted that Eisai continues to flourish in Research Triangle Park. Eisai is active in the RTP community and we welcome and support their growth initiatives.”
The Durham County Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. this evening and their agenda includes a public hearing to consider proposed incentives that may be offered to Eisai in the interest of economic development. It is hoped that Durham County’s decision will positively impact Eisai and secure its future in Durham County.
About Eisai
Eisai Inc. is a U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products in more than 30 countries. Eisai focuses its efforts in three therapeutic areas: neurology, gastrointestinal disorders and oncology/critical care. Established in 1995, Eisai Inc. began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997 and has rapidly grown to become an integrated pharmaceutical business with sales of approximately $2 billion in fiscal year 2004 (year ended March 31, 2005).
Eisai Inc. employs approximately 1,200 people at its headquarters in Teaneck, NJ, at its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility in Research Triangle Park, NC, and in the field. Between 1998 and 2004, Eisai Inc. moved up rapidly in the rankings (based on revenues) of U.S. pharmaceutical companies from No. 44 to No. 19.
Eisai Inc.
CONTACT: Cathy Pollini of Eisai Inc., +1-201-287-2052; or Anna Blank ofHill & Knowlton, +1-212-885-0522, for Eisai Inc.
