Industry News

Medicago opened its $32 million Vaccine Research and Production Facility in September of 2011. Located in Research Triangle Park, the 97,000-sf project will support commercial grade production of influenza vaccines using VLP (virus-like particle) plant-based manufacturing technology. The general contractor, KBR Building Group, was awarded a $19 million contract to build the facility in November of 2010. The plant can produce 10 million doses per month and can increase production within three months to respond to an influenza pandemic. 

NanoViricides is expanding in West Haven, Conn., with the acquisition of an 18,000-sf facility. The building will house laboratories and a cGMP pilot plant for production of nanoviricide pharmaceutical candidates for clinical trials. NanoViricides is engaged in creating anti-viral drugs for H1N1, H5N1, seasonal influenza, hepatitis, rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola. 

Analog Devices will construct a $68.3 million research and development facility in Raheen, Ireland. Built adjacent to Analog's existing manufacturing center, the two-story, 140,000-sf facility will house engineering labs, offices, and meeting rooms to accommodate 100 employees. Analog Devices is a semiconductor manufacturer based in Boston.

The University of Maryland will build a world-class teaching and learning center on its College Park campus. The $63 million, 47,900-sf classroom facility is expected to open in 2016.

Fraunhofer USA's Center for Molecular Biotechnology was awarded $1.5 million in September of 2011 by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Fraunhofer will provide the United States government with a sustainable source of reagents for advancing critical research aimed at developing countermeasures to combat potentially devastating biological pathogens. These reagents will also be valuable for surveillance and diagnostic purposes.