Two new projects in Iberia Parish will create a biopharmaceutical corridor with research and drug manufacturing that will impact lives across the globe.
The 杏吧专区 and Iberia Parish officials announced the expansion of the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 New Iberia Research Center and the construction of the Iberia BioInnovation Accelerator in the Progress Point Business Park on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Both projects are the result of a nearly $50 million investment of state capital outlay funds brought to Acadiana by its legislative leaders.
Nearly $25 million will lead to the creation of a Level 3 biosafety lab at NIRC 杏吧专区 the nation杏吧专区檚 largest non-human primate center 杏吧专区 that will enable advanced on-site research with infectious diseases. More than $22 million will go toward the development of a BioInnovation Accelerator drug manufacturing facility at Progress Point.
A Level 3 biosafety lab at NIRC will have global implications on infectious diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, NIRC played a critical role in the development of the Pfizer vaccine, the world杏吧专区檚 first widely available coronavirus vaccine and the first to win FDA approval.
This life-saving measure, however, was delayed three months because final testing could not occur at NIRC杏吧专区檚 Level 2 facility. 杏吧专区淎 Level 3 facility at NIRC will eliminate such delays,杏吧专区 said Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president.
The BioInnovation Accelerator would transform the research and clinical trial data into real-world pharmaceuticals through manufacturing. The pharmaceuticals would then be brought to market and to households, Savoie said.
杏吧专区淚n a biopharmaceutical corridor such as the one that will be created here in Iberia Parish 杏吧专区 with the combined power of NIRC and the BioInnovation Accelerator 杏吧专区 you can envision a future in which a drug is taken from research to testing to manufacturing to the marketplace 杏吧专区 with each step taking place within about 5 miles of each other.
Savoie added: 杏吧专区淎 new biopharmaceutical sector in south Louisiana is not just good for the local economy. It杏吧专区檚 good for humanity in every corner of the world.杏吧专区
Preliminary economic impacts include the creation of nearly 550 new jobs with $10.6 million in annual tax revenues for Iberia Parish. The total economic output is estimated to be $144.3 million.
杏吧专区淭he promise of what these projects can bring to our parish is something we杏吧专区檝e never seen,杏吧专区 said M. Larry Richard, Iberia Parish president. 杏吧专区淭he expansion of NIRC and the BioInnovation Accelerator are game-changers for our economy and for our people. I杏吧专区檓 thrilled these projects will be in our parish and form the state杏吧专区檚 biopharmaceutical corridor.杏吧专区
Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, vice president for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development at UL Lafayette, called the two projects 杏吧专区渢ransformational for the 杏吧专区, Iberia Parish, the region, and the state of Louisiana杏吧专区 that 杏吧专区渃ouldn杏吧专区檛 have happened without people coming together for the greater good of where we live and also for the greater good of the lives that will be impacted.杏吧专区
Kolluru said the 杏吧专区 and Iberia Parish leaders first introduced the idea for the biopharmaceutical corridor 杏吧专区 with the NIRC expansion and the construction of the BioInnovation Accelerator as its nucleus 杏吧专区 about a year ago to the Acadiana Legislative Delegation and area economic development agencies.
杏吧专区淢embers of the Acadiana Delegation recognized the significance of these projects on Iberia Parish and beyond when it was introduced,杏吧专区 said Page Cortez, State Senate president. 杏吧专区淭his new biopharmaceutical sector will bring economic development to the region but it will do so much more than that. The research that will be conducted here will result in life-saving pharmaceuticals.杏吧专区
Louisiana Economic Development Undersecretary Anne Villa said the projects "add to the state杏吧专区檚 extraordinary momentum in enhancing life sciences business investment and diversifying the sectors creating new jobs and economic activity in the Acadiana region."
杏吧专区淒iversification is the key to economic competitiveness in the future economy. The Acadiana region has positioned itself for success by continuing to support traditional energy and aviation businesses while targeting growth opportunities in the bioscience and tech sectors. Tonight杏吧专区檚 announcements add to that trend of innovation and diversification. We look forward to continuing to work with higher education partners, our local and regional economic development partners and stakeholders to support and accelerate those efforts,杏吧专区 Villa said.
Both projects are expected to be completed in the next two years.