Japanese pharmaceutical company Kyowa Kirin announced plans to invest up to $530 million to build its first North American manufacturing facility in Lee County, North Carolina. The announcement follows the company’s earlier decision to invest $200 million in a plant in Sanford, which is expected to create over 102 jobs in the region.
Sanford Area Growth Alliance CEO Jimmy Randolph (Photo source: Sanford Area Growth Alliance)
Becky Levine, Director of Community Engagement and Public Affairs in Kyowa Kirin North America Manufacturing, said the $530 million investment figure was a conservative estimate and the company was confident about the potential for further investment.
The additional investment is anticipated to boost employment opportunities in the region and strengthen Lee County’s efforts to become a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in the region.
Sanford Area Growth Alliance Chief Executive Jimmy Randolph said they were “continuing to see a significant amount of interest from various life sciences projects here in Lee County.”
Meanwhile, Kyowa Kirin North America Executive Vice President Paul Testa highlighted the ample supply of specialized manpower and resources within the Sanford and the Research Triangle region.
“The plentiful supply of resources in Sanford and Research Triangle region adds to the excitement of collaborating with area colleges, universities, businesses, and civic leaders to ensure that our plans align with Sanford’s vision for growth,” he said.
Kyowa Kirin will break ground on the new facility in the second half of the year and hopes to start operations by 2027. The company also anticipates future expansion and is eyeing the 75-acre campus at Helix Innovation Park at The Backyard.
North Carolina has supported Kyowa Kirin’s investment by providing $10 million in performance-based state and local incentives for 12 years. North Carolina’s Department of Commerce projects that Kyowa Kirin’s investment will boost the region’s economy by $1.05 billion and significantly increase average local wages.
With this investment, Kyowa Kirin joins other esteemed pharmaceutical companies, including Astellas and Pfizer, in establishing a presence in Lee County.
