MERIDEN, Conn., Nov. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Protein Sciences Corporation, makers of Flublok®, the world’s first recombinant influenza vaccine, announced today it signed a five year lease of manufacturing facilities with a five year renewal option and will make a multi-million dollar investment to establish manufacturing operations at Pfizer’s Pearl River Campus in Rockland County, NY. The Company’s expansion will initially create approximately 50 new high-paying full-time jobs that could grow to up to 150 total jobs over the next decade.
The Company will initially lease two fully equipped buildings totaling 83,000 square feet on the 550-acre Pearl River campus that is owned and operated by Pfizer Inc. and will establish a production line for Flublok. U.S. FDA licensure of Flublok is anticipated to occur in the next few months. The buildings being leased had previously been used to manufacture a licensed vaccine developed by Wyeth. Protein Sciences’ expansion will create vital new job opportunities and take advantage of a local workforce experienced in biopharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing. Empire State Development of NY has committed to providing Protein Sciences with $2 million in tax credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program to support the Company’s expansion.
Protein Sciences is also working with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to explore opportunities to expand the Company’s manufacturing operations near its headquarters in Meriden, CT.
Flublok and its sister vaccine Panblok®, that is designed to protect against pandemic influenza, have been developed in partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through Contract No. HHS0100200900106C that was awarded in 2009. The Company has requested BARDA support for its manufacturing operations in Pearl River.
Protein Sciences’ CEO Manon Cox said, “With Flublok approval around the corner, the Company anticipates significant growth.” She added, “New York State and local government have provided invaluable assistance that is enabling our expansion in Pearl River. We hope that support from the Connecticut government follows suit and allows us to expand in our home state as well.”
Protein Sciences is a vaccine development and protein production company dedicated to saving lives and improving health through the creation of innovative vaccines and biopharmaceuticals.
SOURCE Protein Sciences Corporation
