(The Center Square) – Modernization of “manufacturing technologies and controls through further advanced automation and artificial intelligence” are helping trigger Biogen’s commitment of $2 billion into its North Carolina facilities.
The Fortune 500 company based in Cambridge, Mass., opened its first campus in the Research Triangle Park in 1995. Celebrating the 30 years, the company on Monday said its two campuses will further expand “the antisense oligonucleotide capabilities and infrastructure, establishing clinical and commercial multi-platform fill finish capabilities.”
Biogen, traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, had 2024 revenue of $9.68 billion, net income of $1.63 billion, and a profit margin of 17%, according to its financials.
The company’s largest manufacturing footprint is in North Carolina, with more than 1,500 employees and 400 skilled contractors in Wake and Durham counties. By volume of size, the company is the state’s largest biotechnology employer and top five of biopharmaceutical employers.
Manufacturing and quality control testing for 90% of its innovator commercial medicines happens in America.
“Our manufacturing footprint in the United States has played a critical role in Biogen’s history and success, and in advancing the treatments that are making an impact for patients, families, and communities here in the U.S. and around the world,” said Nicole Murphy, the leader of Biogen’s department for Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology. “With this investment, we will modernize and expand our manufacturing capability to enable our pipeline and provide resilient patient supply, while continuing to support the skilled and dedicated community of life sciences talent in North Carolina.”
Unlike a number of other major economic announcements in the state lately, this one was without a taxpayer incentive package. Biogen has previously benefited from state subsidies for either a grant, tax credit or training reimbursement.
U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., said the investment is possible because of President Donald Trump’s “tax cuts, deregulation and supply chain reforms are reviving American industry.”
North Carolina has recently welcomed news of a $4.7 billion investment from JetZero in the Triad; $10 billion investment from Amazon Web Services in Richmond County; and $500 million from Jabil in Rowan County. All included state and local incentive packages.
