Charlotte Bizjournals -- A Wilmington-based contract-research company will bring 300 private-sector jobs to the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis. Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc. will create the jobs over the next three years. Fred Eshelman, PPD founder, chief executive and vice chairman, said a trip to the $1.5 billion campus -- being developed by California billionaire David Murdock -- convinced him Kannapolis was the place for PPD. “After meeting with Mr. Murdock and visiting the campus, I realized this project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, where industry and academic scientists can freely collaborate to bring innovations in scientific research to market, increasing the length and quality of human life,” Eshelman said Wednesday morning in an announcement at the Kannapolis site. PPD has 10,200 employees and offices in 30 countries. It provides discovery, testing and development services for pharmaceutical and biotech customers.
