Eisai Breaks Ground for Parenteral Drug Facility

Research Triangle Park, NC (Nov. 13)-Eisai Inc. (Teaneck, NJ, www.eisai.com) broke ground here for a new pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility for parenteral oncology drugs.

Eisai will invest $90 million in the 65,000-ft² facility, which will encompass aseptic processing suites, laboratories, and other support functions. In addition, a separate $15-million central utilities building is planned to supply power, steam, chilled water, and compressed air to existing and new operations. Facility completion is expected in three years with operations beginning in 2009.

The new facility will complement the company’s existing 190,000-ft² structure. That facility manufactures “Aricept” (donepezil hydrochloride) and “Aciphex” (rabeprazole sodium) tablets and also houses formulation research and development and manufacturing of compounds for use in clinical trials.

Eisai has several oncology drugs in development and recently acquired four oncology-related products from Ligand Pharmaceuticals (San Diego, CA, www.ligand.com).