Seattle-based biotech firm Dendreon Corp. announced plans Monday to open a $70 million manufacturing plant in nearby Union City. Gov. Sonny Perdue said the manufacturing plant could generate hundreds of new jobs in the Atlanta region.

Dendreon plans to locate in a 160,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Union City’s Majestic Airport Center. Pending FDA approval, the company will produce Provenge, a new treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer.

Dendreon plans to launch Provenge from its existing facility in Morris Plains, N.J., and ramp up manufacturing capacity at its facilities in Union City and in California, the company said. A July 17 report in the Atlanta Business Chronicle indicated the plant would create approximately 300 jobs.

“We are pleased to announce that we are expanding our manufacturing capacity with the addition of two new facilities in Atlanta and Los Angeles,” said Dendreon President and CEO Dr. Mitchell H. Gold. “We have particularly enjoyed partnering with the state of Georgia, Fulton County officials and the local community during this process and are grateful for their partnership and support as we prepare to commercialize Provenge to help the many patients with advanced prostate cancer who currently have few appealing treatment options.”

Commenting on the announcement, Perdue said the 2009 BIO International Convention in May introduced biotechnology companies like Dendreon Corporation to Georgia’s business assets.

“Our state’s world-class healthcare institutions and hospitals enable companies like Dendreon to conduct clinical research and engage in product development while benefiting from the vast scientific resources that Georgia has to offer,” Perdue said.

Dendreon Corp. is a biotechnology company whose mission is to target cancer and transform lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics, according to information supplied by the company.

Dendreon applies its knowledge in antigen identification, engineering and cell processing to produce active cellular immunotherapy product candidates designed to stimulate an immune response. Dendreon is also developing an orally-available small molecule that targets TRPM8 that could be applicable to multiple types of cancer as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia.

login to post comments