Marks Start of a Yearlong 25th Anniversary Celebration
Biogen, Inc. (NASDAQ/BGEN), joined by North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, and about 100 state and local officials and business leaders today dedicated two new world-class facilities in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina and began a yearlong celebration leading up to its 25th anniversary.
Biogen’s President and Chief Executive Officer James C. Mullen said, “During the last 25 years, Biogen has established itself as a leader in the field of biotechnology. We have expanded globally and in RTP, where we have been pleased to work with Governor Easley and other state and business leaders over the last seven years to invest $300 million and create more than 300 jobs. We have also delivered the top multiple sclerosis drug to more than 118,000 patients around the world and focused on discovering other novel therapeutics that will improve the quality of people’s lives. Our growing pipeline has several late-stage products, and we have set industry benchmarks in our commitment to manufacturing capacity and research and development. We are confident our past success will translate into future growth and commercial success in RTP and around the world.”
Governor Easley said, “Biogen is an economic engine for North Carolina, creating jobs and opportunity for hundreds of our citizens. Our continued commitment to making progress in education and our business-friendly climate allows Biogen to grow and prosper in our state. I congratulate Biogen on 25 years in the business of biotechnology and I look forward to a continued partnership with this company.”
Founded in 1978, Biogen is the oldest independent biotechnology company in the world with more than 2,200 employees worldwide. Biogen’s growth in RTP has been a major highlight in the Company’s history. Last year, the number of employees in RTP more than doubled, and today there are over 300 total employees.
Today’s celebration included a formal dedication of the $173 million large-scale manufacturing plant (LSM) and a 150,000 square-foot laboratory and office building. The LSM, a 250,000 square-foot manufacturing facility with 120,000 liters of bioreactor capacity, was recently named a Project Excellence Award winner by California-based Fluor Corporation. It gives Biogen one of the largest biologic manufacturing capacities in the world and will have the flexibility to produce multiple products in the Company’s pipeline.
Also attending the ceremony were Dr. Charles Hamner, who recently retired as President and CEO of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and James O. Roberson, President of the Research Triangle Foundation, who spoke at the event. Biogen presented Dr. Hamner with a $5,000 donation to support the Center’s program for biotechnology education and laboratory supplies in area high schools.
Forward Looking Statements
In addition to historical facts, this press release contains forward-looking statements. Reference is made in particular to statements regarding the Company’s future growth and commercial success. The Company’s business is drug development and commercialization which involve a high degree of risk. There risks include, but are not limited to, the uncertainties associated with research and development activities and with taking new products through the clinical trial and regulatory review process, the challenges involved in manufacturing and commercializing products and in successfully meeting competition, and, once a product is commercialized, the risk of exposure to product liability, patent and other types of lawsuits, as well the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the Company’s actual results could differ materially from management’s current expectations. The Company disclaims any duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Biogen
Biogen, Inc., winner of the U.S. National Medal of Technology, is a biotechnology company principally engaged in discovering and developing drugs for human healthcare through genetic engineering. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, the Company’s revenues are generated from worldwide sales of AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a) for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, and from the sales by licensees of a number of products. (Please see full prescribing information at http://www.avonex.com.) Biogen’s research and development activities are focused on novel products to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, cancer, fibrosis and congestive heart failure. The Company maintains active clinical research programs in protein therapeutics, small molecules, genomics and gene therapy. For copies of press releases and additional information about the Company, please consult Biogen’s homepage on the World Wide Web at http://www.biogen.com.