Biomanufacturing in North Carolina

Biomanufacturing in N.C. What is biotechnology? A collection of technologies that use living cells and/or biological molecules to solve problems and make useful products.

Biomanufacturing in N.C. The making of these products is called biomanufacturing or bioprocessing.

Biomanufacturing in N.C. A Growing Industry in N.C. 16 biomanufacturing companies More than 30 other companies engaged in related manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices Together, they employ more than 20,000 people.

Biomanufacturing in N.C. Types of products made in N.C. include: Vaccines for humans and animals Biopharmaceuticals Amino acids Industrial enzymes Therapeutics isolated from blood Custom DNA sequences

Biogen Idec Produces biopharmaceuticals to treat cancer, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory diseases. Its large-scale manufacturing in Research Triangle Park is one of the largest cell culture facilities in the world.

Ajinomoto Is a world leader in the production of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Like many bioprocessing facilities, the Raleigh plant operates at full capacity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Diosynth RTP Is a world leader in production of recombinant protein biopharmaceuticals. Its state-of-the-art facilities are located in Research Triangle Park.

AlphaVax Is developing a new vaccine technology with broad applications against infectious disease, cancer and biodefense threats. Its manufacturing plant is located in Lenoir.

Novozymes North America Is located on 1,600 acres in Franklinton. It is the largest multi-purpose enzyme manufacturing plant in the United States and employs approximately 350 people. Novozymes is the biotech-based world leader in industrial enzymes and microorganisms.

Embrex Is an international ag biotech company that developed the first in ovo (in the egg) injection system. It eliminates the need for manual vaccination of newly hatched broiler chicks. The manufacturing plant is located in Laurinburg.

Wyeth Vaccines Operates one of the world’s largest vaccine facilities in Sanford. The vaccines that eliminated small pox and polio in the U.S. came from Wyeth laboratories.

Greer Labs Is a leading supplier of allergy testing and treatment materials. Its manufacturing facility is located in Lenoir.

KBI BioPharma Is a contract biomanufacturer in Durham. The company produces a variety of bio-pharmaceuticals for other companies.

MWG Biotech Offers products and services for gene research. The company produces custom DNA sequences. The facility is located in High Point.

Argos Therapeutics Is developing therapeutic vaccines in Durham, which are given to treat (instead of prevent) diseases such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Biolex Produces hard-to-make therapeutic proteins by growing them in the aquatic plant Lemna (duckweed). The biomanufacturing plant is in Pittsboro.

Talecris Biotherapeutics Isolates a variety of therapeutic proteins from human blood and plasma in its Clayton, N.C., facility. The diseases these proteins treat include: ● Hemophilia ● Clotting disorders ● Shock ● Burns ● Immune disorders ● Hepatitis ● Tetanus ● Rabies exposure.

Archer Daniels Midland Is one of the largest agricultural processors in the world. The plant, in Southport, N.C., produces citric acid.

Corn Products International Produces high-fructose corn syrup and starch in Winston-Salem.

Merck & Co. Broke ground on a new biomanufacturing facility in 2004. When completed in 2008, the Durham facility will produce vaccines for chicken pox and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR).