Eisai Inc., a Teaneck, New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company, broke ground for a new pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility for parenteral - or intravenous - oncology treatments in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina. Eisai has a number of drugs in development for patients with cancer and recently entered the market through the acquisition of four oncology-related products from Ligand Pharmaceuticals.

Eisai will invest $90 million in the 65,000 square foot 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 anticipated in three years with operations beginning in 2009, leading to 59 new jobs over the next three years and a total of 84 new jobs over the next five years.

"Today's groundbreaking is a testament to our long-standing commitment to oncology as well as our exceptional growth since we first broke ground in RTP 10 years ago," said Lonnel Coats, President & COO, Eisai Inc. "We are dedicated to fulfilling our human health care mission of satisfying unmet medical needs and increasing benefits to patients with cancer."

The new facility will complement the existing 190,000 square foot structure, which is devoted to manufacturing Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride tablets) and Aciphex (rabeprazole sodium) tablets as well as formulation research and development and manufacturing of compounds for use in clinical trials.

"For nearly 10 years, Eisai has invested in RTP and provided substantial job opportunities in Durham County, adding to the economic vitality of our state," said North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain. "Eisai's expansion is a strong addition to the thriving pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in North Carolina and we are delighted to witness and support Eisai's exceptional growth and contribution."

In addition to Secretary Fain and Coats, special guests at today's groundbreaking ceremony included former North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt; Mr. Toshio Arai, Senior Executive Vice President, Eisai Co., Ltd.; Dr. Kentara Yoshimatsu, President & COO, Eisai Research & Development Management Co., Ltd.; and Mr. Hajime Shimizu, Chairman & CEO, Eisai Inc., and President, Eisai Corporation of North America. In addition to the groundbreaking ceremony, Eisai also celebrated its ten-year anniversary in RTP.

"The solid growth of the company, which includes an oncology pipeline, has led us to expand our presence in North Carolina for the third time since 2001," said Lou Arp, Vice President, Production Operations, Eisai Inc. "The new facility is a tribute to our successful history and future plans for production expansion, as well as our commitment to providing a stable supply of high-quality medicines."

"Currently, Eisai is studying various anti-cancer compounds," added Ray Wood, Vice President, Pharmaceutical and Analytical Research and Development, Eisai Inc. "The new facility will further enhance our capabilities to develop and produce drug formulations for clinical trials, an important step in introducing Eisai's future oncology products."