The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GROUND was broken on Thursday for a new $120 million production facility at the PharmaChem site on West Sunrise Highway, Freeport for the exclusive production of Gilead’s life-saving medicines.

This new investment is the result of a partnership between PharmaChem Technologies Ltd and Gilead Sciences Inc, one of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in the world whose antiretroviral medicines are currently being used to treat 8.7 million persons with HIV/AIDS.

A four-story expansion will be built and completed by the end of 2018. Prime Minister Perry Christie attended and spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

“The confidence behind this investment is so significant that I have to salute you all for doing this in the Bahamas at this time,” he told Pietro Stefanutti, president of PharmaChem and Dr Regan Shea, senior vice president of chemical and biology operation at Gilead Sciences Inc.

“The construction of the new plant will have a beneficial and positive effect for the Bahamas and the Bahamian economy as longer term employment is guaranteed over the next decade.”

During the construction phase some 100 contractors will be employed, and when completed PharmaChem will increase its employment from 120 to 220.

Mr Christie indicated that his administration is committed to ensuring Grand Bahama’s success.

“You must pay attention to the work of Dr Marcus Bethel (chairman of the Hawksbill Creek Review Committee) and the set of recommendations that will forever impact this island and this country; we are in the process as we speak of rapidly fleshing out the path to the future,” he said.

He noted that such major investments in pharmaceuticals and petro chemicals would serve as a catalyst for similar investments to the island.

Mr Stefanutti said PharmaChem formed a relationship with Gilead and opened in Freeport 13 years ago. It produces the drug tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TBF), which is used to treat HIV/AIDS.

“Once again we are making another step to ensuring that PharmaChem will be a viable and sustaining operation in Freeport for years to come.

“Today we are breaking ground on a new multi-product facility that will support Gilead’s life saving drugs, jointly designed by PharmaChem and Gilead, and is the testimony of the strong relationship we will have,” he said.

According to Dr Regan Shea, the addition of the new plant will allow for the manufacturing of more “structurally complex active ingredients.”

He noted that since 2004 PharmaChem has been the key supplier of the active ingredient registered in its antiretroviral therapies used for persons with HIV.

“One HIV medicine that is currently produced here is TBF; it is the backbone of HIV treatment around the world, reaching 160 countries,” said Dr Shea.

Last year PharmaChem was one of Gilead’s largest suppliers of TBF, manufacturing a quantity to treat 950,000 people.

He said: “In developing counties where the epidemic is most severe, more than 8.7 million people living with HIV are currently receiving TBF-based therapy.”

Gilead Sciences Inc, is headquartered in Foster City, California. It is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need.

Dr Shea said Gilead would support the hiring of scientists and new lab-base to enable development in the manufacturing of some investigative medicine for clinical research programmes, which will continue the introduction of new treatment for Hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.