Tergus Pharma: CDMO Tergus cuts the ribbon on Durham plant, latest in a line of companies packing into the emerging NC hub

Among the fastest-growing biotech hubs in the US, North Carolina has seen a flurry of investments from drugmakers, particularly contract manufacturers. Now, another CDMO is planting its flag near the Raleigh-Durham corridor, leveraging the growing brain trust in the area. This week, Tergus Pharma cut the ribbon on a 100,000-square-foot headquarters and CDMO facility in Durham, NC. The new facility will house four R&D labs, six manufacturing suites and six fill-finish and packaging suites. The company's goal is lofty: become the largest topical drug CDMO in the US. The Tar Heel State has turned into a recruitment machine for the biotech industry - and that's not an accident, Gov. Ray Cooper said at the ribbon cutting ceremony. "When you look at the synergy that we have in biotechnology here in North Carolina, you know that we are the place to be. When you look at the quality of life, when you look at the amazing workforce, when you see our great universities both public and private, along with our community colleges, you know that this is the place to be," he said. Earlier this week, Chinese oncology player CARsgen Therapeutics threw its hat into the North Carolina ring, with the announcement of two new sites in Raleigh-Durham, and the creation of its first manufacturing hub in the US. In April, Invitae chose North Carolina over Washington, DC; Boston; and Austin, Texas, drawn by the life sciences community that Invitae COO Ken Knight said will be easy to tap into for employees, and a need for a location on the east coast of the US. Before that, CDMO Abzena announced the addition of a new facility, and Fujifilm Diosynth and Biogen too. Those are just the deals that have been announced within the last two months. "We're on a hot streak, folks," Cooper said at the Tergus ceremony. "And it's going to keep going as long as we can keep the talented workforce available for companies like this that are growing and thriving in North Carolina."