BI announces more than $350 million in U.S. capital investments

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals invested more than $350 million in its U.S. operations this year, the company said Tuesday.



The investments went toward building on the privately owned drug maker's drug discovery, development and manufacturing capacity, which include a $65 million 72,000-sq.-ft. research and development center at its U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield, Conn. When finished, the center will handle production of active pharmaceutical ingredients used in early development activities, and products developed there will move on to the company's full-scale R&D centers in Ohio and Virginia, as well as Germany and Italy.



Other projects include a $42 million drug-safety assessment building in Ridgefield scheduled for competion in 2013; an $89 million vaccine research center in Sioux Center, Iowa, being built for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, the company's animal health business; a $100 million expansion of a biological manufacturing facility in St. Joseph's, Mo.; and a $50 million high containment operations facility in Columbus, Ohio, opened in September by Boehringer Inghelheim Roxane for developing and manufacturing tablets and capsules for Roxane Labs.



"These are exciting projects; ones that increase Boehringer Ingelheim's research and development capabilities and reinforce our commitment to growth and innovation in the U.S.," saod J. Martin Carroll, president and CEO for BI's U.S. operations. "Through these investments, we are improving our ability to research, develop and manufacture the medicines of tomorrow and in doing so fulfilling our promise to bring more health to patients and their families."



In addition to the investments, BI gained a presence on the West Coast in March by acquiring Boehringer Ingelheim Fremont from Amgen. The facility manufactures biotech drugs and includes more than 300,000 sq. ft. for labs, manufacturing and process development.