Raleigh, Wake County Invest In Xellia's Lyophilized Vial Manufacturing Site
By Cyndi Root
The Wake County Board of Commissioners announced in a press release that it has joined the city of Raleigh, NC in investing in Xellia Pharmaceuticals’ manufacturing site. The facility, acquired from Fresenius Kabi in July, is dedicated to lyophilized (freeze-dried) vial manufacturing. The County’s Business Investment Grant (BIG) of $1 million over five years matches the City’s grant, and will be dispersed when Xellia meets certain thresholds. Phil Matthews, Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair, said, "Wake County has strategic advantages both in the growing life science industry and in our highly skilled, highly educated workforce. The proximity to leading drug research and development make us an excellent match for Xellia's expansion.”
Wake County BIG Grant
Wake County rewarded Xellia with the grant as a gesture of appreciation to Xellia for investing in the local community and for providing high quality jobs to its workforce. The Wake County BIG Grant will go into effect when Xellia invests at least $100 million in the manufacturing facility. Additionally, Xellia must hire at least 50 new employees with a wage equal to or greater than 120 percent of the average Wake County wage.
Xellia Site
Xellia focuses on anti-infective treatments and plans to use the facility on Capital Blvd. in Raleigh for vial manufacturing. The site was acquired from Fresenius Kabi for $7.5 million, according to the Triangle Business Journal. Carl-Ake Carlsson, CEO of Xellia, said, "The city's close proximity to world-renowned universities and a prominent cluster of leading pharma and biotech companies has made it an ideal base for our first U.S. facility; we feel very welcome here."
Raleigh Hub for Biotech Growth
Xellia’s facility joins other firms in the area, which includes the Research Triangle Park (RTP), an organized territory in North Carolina. The high-tech research and development center covering 7,000 acres was created in 1959 by government, universities, and local businesses. GlaxoSmithKline has an R&D facility there as does Bayer, Biogen Idec, and Merck, among many others.
About Xellia
Xellia issued a press release stating that it kept the old facility’s 90 employees and is looking for more. About 100 employees are needed, including quality control and assurance technicians, validation and technology transfer specialists, and maintenance mechanics. Xellia is wholly owned by Novo A/S, the holding company of the Novo Group.