NJBIZ was on the scene as Enzene Biosciences cut the ribbon Wednesday on a new $50 million state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility on the Princeton West Innovation Campus in Hopewell.
Enzene is a subsidiary of India’s Alkem Laboratories. The facility marks the company’s first U.S. manufacturing base in New Jersey. The site will host the fully connected, continuous manufacturing platform – EnzeneX. The innovative and leading technology delivers high-quality biologics with greater efficiency.
The company has also already hired 50 people for the Hopewell site — with plans to scale up to some 200 jobs over time.
A number of dignitaries, leaders and key stakeholders in the life sciences and innovation space were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Gov. Phil Murphy.
No accident
“Here we are, one of India’s most promising biotechnological companies placing its first bet in America right here in the great State of New Jersey,” said Murphy. “I would argue that that does not happen by accident. It’s a combination of a whole series of factors – talent, location, the nation’s premier innovation economy, especially in the biopharma/life sciences space.
“But it also has something to do with our deep ties to India, ties of which we are extraordinarily proud – and each day, we try to deepen,” Murphy noted, pointing to an upcoming economic mission he will lead to India.
Enzene Biosciences CEO Himanshu Gadgil spoke about looking for a U.S. site, describing how the company searched coast-to-coast before choosing New Jersey.
“New Jersey was an automatic choice,” said Gadgil, crediting the governor. “And it’s really through your leadership of setting this state up for innovation, for life sciences – that made it possible.”
He noted how Enzene felt more than welcomed.
“We felt that this was the home where we should be,” said Gadgil. “Thank you very much for your leadership, Gov. Murphy. It’s only because of that we are here.”
Stay tuned to NJBIZ for additional coverage from the ribbon cutting, as well as further details about Enzene and its big bet here in the Garden State.
