Industry News

The International Genomics Consortium (IGC), a non-profit medical research organization, plans to decide the location of its administrative headquarters in summer 2002. Among states under consideration are Arizona, Texas, Maryland, and Georgia. The genomics consortium will house research labs, administrative offices and a center coordinating off-site research. The IGC utilizes data from the Human Genome Project to search for cures for disease.

On March 13 Star Scientific, maker of smokeless tobacco products, announced an expansion of its Clarksville manufacturing and processing facilities. Star, based in Chester, Va., will invest $49.9 million in the plant which will manufacture Stonewall and Ariva, a "cigalett" or mint-bit that supplies tobacco users with nicotine for use in smoke-free environments.

As part of its master alliance program with Kaiser Permanente, McCarthy is beginning tenant build-out for a $10-million medical office building in Folsom, Calif. Designed by architect Gordon H. Chong & Partners of Sacramento, the three-story, 116,000-sf structure will contain adult primary care, OB/GYN, optical, pharmacy, radiology, pediatric, and medical records areas, as well as exam room space. Adhering to a tight nine-month schedule, McCarthy is performing the TI work concurrent with the building's construction.

GlaxoSmithKline has completed a $13-million  cGMP upgrade of the Tums® manufacturing site--the only such facility in the world. McCarthy performed upgrades to the 70-year-old plant, which produces 10 billion tablets annually. Designed by architect Lockwood Greene Engineers, of Spartanburg, S.C., these upgrades affected every aspect of the manufacturing process, from raw material handling through packaging.

Eyetel Imaging is considering Maryland as a location for expansion of its manufacturing operations. Hoping to increase production, Eyetel, manufacturer of a digital camera that captures images of the eye, will attempt to pinpoint the site of the expansion in the next few months.