Lilly is expanding its San Diego Biotechnology Center in a move that will create up to 130 new drug discovery jobs – a 70% increase in its workforce at the site.
The expansion will also effectively double Lilly’s research presence in the city, with work on the development set to be completed in 2016
Thomas Bumol, senior vice president, biotechnology and immunology research at Lilly, said: “San Diego has been an important location for Lilly laboratories for more than a decade. The city is a global hub for biomedical research and talent, where collaboration between academic institutions and biotechnology thrives.
“We want to build on our success in San Diego through expanded collaborations that ultimately allow us to bring better medicines to people faster than ever before.”
The company hopes that by expanding the centre, whose space will grow by 140%, its staff involved in discovery chemistry and research technologies, and biotechnology will be able to collaborate more closely.
Alan Palkowitz, vice president, discovery chemistry research & technologies at Lilly, said: “The molecular discovery capabilities at the Lilly Biotechnology Center represent state of the art platforms to enable pharmaceutical innovation across the continuum of small and large molecules.
“The expanded investment will further Lilly’s leadership in these core areas and catalyse future discoveries.”
Lilly first presence in the San Diego area came in 2004 when it acquired Applied Molecular Evolution – now a subsidiary of Lilly – then the Lilly Biotechnology Center was set up in 2009.