Bio Island Bouncing Back

For more info visit newsinfusion.com (SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) July 7, 2010 – After a lull brought on by the global recession, Puerto Rico appears to be bouncing back as one of the world’s top destinations for life science companies. Two U.S. companies – Blu Pharmaceuticals and a DuPont business, Pioneer Hi-Bred – announced new manufacturing and R&D facilities on the island during the past months. With Amgen, Eli Lilly and Abbott Laboratories investing $4 billion in the island over the past seven years, Puerto Rico rapidly became the world’s third largest biotech manufacturer, earning it the nickname “Bio Island.” Puerto Rico also has one of the largest concentrations of pharmaceutical manufacturing operations in the world and produces 13 of the top 20 blockbuster drugs sold in the United States. Most recently, Pioneer Hi-Bred announced a new state-of-the-art research and development facility in Salinas on the southern coast of Puerto Rico to complement its existing trial seed production facility. The $6 million facility is expected to employ 100 scientists, agronomists and others. “Puerto Rico was a smart choice for many reasons,” said John Soper, Pioneer Vice President of Crop Genetics Research and Development.