SCIENTIFIC METHOD: Leading-edge technology spurs biomanufacturing growth.

• Position: BIOTECHNOLOGY ROUND TABLE

NORTH CAROLINA'S EMERGING BIOMANUFACTURING SECTOR MOVES TO THE FUTURE WHILE tackling issues that include finding a talented workforce. Business North Carolina magazine gathered a panel of nine industry leaders to discuss this and other topics.

The discussion, hosted by North Carolina Biosciences Organization, was moderated by Samuel M. Taylor. Sponsors were Biogen, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Grifols Shared Services N.A. and Pfizer. The transcript was edited for brevity and clarity.

From top to bottom:

Bill Bullock, senior vice president, statewide operations and economic development, North Carolina Biotech Center

Bob Smith, senior vice president, global gene therapy business, Pfizer

Samuel M. Taylor, president, North Carolina Biosciences Organization (moderator) Nelson Dollar, N.C. House of Representatives

Bob Kenyoti, vice president of North America manufacturing, Biogen

Christine Vannais, senior director of manufacturing, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies

Brandon Brega, associate vice president, plant management, Merck

Ted Lithgow, chief operating officer, Humacyte

Sergi Roura, president, facilities North America, Grifols Shared Services N.A.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIOMANUFACTURING TODAY, FOCUSING ON BIOLOGIC STUDIES. FOR A START, WHY DID YOUR COMPANY COME TO NORTH CAROLINA?

KENYON We came here because it's a great environment for our burgeoning business, which includes the educational system, support from the state and access to talent. We were one of the early players in the state, so we had a lot of support and were able to influence programs at universities to grow and expand and actually advance the talent pool. It's continued to explode from there. In 1995, it was the right place to build.

BREGA We had similar themes in terms of access to high-caliber education from the major universities in this area. That was a big pull, as well as what we continue to see as a collaboration and cooperation with the local and state governments. We've had great relationships with Durham Technical Community College. Our original plant manager served on the board at Durham Tech, and since then, we've had a number of employees on the board, and those relationships over time have been beneficial to Merck. We're growing at our manufacturing facility. It does take time, but what employees in North Carolina can deliver is competitive with anywhere in the country. Umiiil The reason to come to North Carolina was really an acquisition of our competitor in 1972. However, we have invested and expanded in North Carolina.

ROURA We did an extensive site selection for our new wave of investments and expansion for the long range. We decided on Clayton because of access to workforce and education, along with land availability, infrastructure and efficiency in terms of energy and other costs.

VANNAIS North Carolina is one of the three major hubs for biologies in the U.S.--Boston, San Francisco and Research Triangle Park. To serve our clients, we have to be where they are and be accessible to them. As we're working with clients on clinical and commercial products, tying into that accessible, highly trained workforce is critical. We also have the ability to expand as the clients need us and have a flexible delivery method. We partnered with academia and get a lot of value out of that collaboration.

LITHGOW We located here for many of the reasons that everyone else mentioned. We also have connections in terms of intellectual property with some of the schools here, mainly Duke University. We work very closely with Duke in terms of pre-clinical development. Some of our medical and clinical personnel have been...