Rhodia Opens New £4.5 Million Pounds Pharma Facility in Scottland
Annan-based Rhodia Pharma Solutions, which manufactures a range of products used in treatments for various medical conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, ulcers, and viruses, has received a £1.8 million contribution phased over three years from Scottish Enterprise's R&D Plus programme, Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace announced.
This funding has helped the French company upgrade one of its four independent production facilities at its Annan site supporting the manufacture of a new drug to treat bone cancer which is currently in clinical trials in the US. This current £4.5 million project is part of a three-year site development programme, expected to total more than £10million which is due for completion in 2006.
Rhodia is the first company to benefit from the new R&D Plus scheme which has gained approval from the EU. This large company support programme will support R&D in the areas of industrial research and pre-competitive development. Speaking at the official opening of Rhodia's new pharmaceutical facilities today, Mr Wallace said:
"This is a significant investment in a new facility in Annan which will bring valuable R&D capabilities and skills to Scotland. I am particularly pleased that the project is being supported through Scottish Enterprise's R&D Plus Programme. This funding has helped bring the time scale for the project forward, and assisted in the creation of up to 65 new high value jobs.
"This is a world class facility undertaking early stage research and design of drugs that could bring great health benefits to the world. The introduction of its new pharmaceutical processes has attracted the attention of some of the world's major biotechnology companies. The project helps demonstrate that Scotland is a major biomanufacturing player able to address the growing need from companies for up-to-date manufacturing capabilities.
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