Governor Corbett Announces at Least 80 New Jobs in Lehigh Valley with Pharmaceutical Company's Purchase, Renovation of Former Amcor Site

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced that the global pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo Inc. will create more than 80 jobs in the Lehigh Valley with the establishment of its first U.S. manufacturing and packaging operation.

Daiichi Sankyo Inc. will buy and renovate the 140,000-square-foot former Amcor packaging facility and have it fully operational this fall. Once the facility is fully operational, it is expected to package the company's entire line of marketed products in the U.S.

"Creating and protecting family sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania is one of this administration's priorities, so I'm pleased to announce Daiichi Sankyo's decision to select Bethlehem for its first U.S. packaging and manufacturing plant," said Governor Corbett. "By creating more than 80 jobs, continuing the productive use of a facility that had been closed and injecting more than $15 million in private investment into the local economy, this project will positively impact the Lehigh Valley."

The total cost of the project – which includes the facility's purchase and renovation, new equipment acquisition, and employee training – is $19.6 million. The project will create at least 82 jobs in Bethlehem within three years.

DSI – formed in 2006 and headquartered in Parsippany, N.J. – is the U.S. subsidiary of global pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.  DSI, which has nearly 3,000 U.S. employees, is focused on the development of cardiovascular and oncology therapies and concentrates in the therapy areas of hypertension, thrombosis, dyslipidemia, diabetes and acute coronary syndrome.

"This move diversifies our capabilities and allows us to streamline our operations and minimize commercialization risk by exerting greater control over the life cycle of our products, from research and development through packaging and distribution," said Jeff Lane, vice president of operations at Daiichi Sankyo. "We are excited to be opening a facility in Bethlehem and look forward to a productive future working relationship and becoming a part of the local community."

The project was coordinated by the Governor's Action Team, economic development professionals who work directly with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in the state.

The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. and Northampton County helped the company obtain a $3.6 million funding offer from the commonwealth for the project. The package includes a $250,000 opportunity grant, a $2 million loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, a $1 million loan from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund, $100,000 in job training assistance and $246,000 in job creation tax credits.

"This is exactly the type of company we want to see in the Lehigh Valley," said Philip B. Mitman, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. "Daiichi Sankyo will provide high quality jobs in one of our target industry clusters for growth in the region."

"This is a valuable addition to Northampton County," said John Stoffa, Northampton County executive. "We are excited that a global company of this caliber has chosen to locate and provide these 80 job opportunities to the citizens of our region. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the county, LVEDC and the Governor's Action Team, another company has chosen to invest in our local economy, proving that the Lehigh Valley is the place to do business."  

For more information on Daiichi Sankyo, visit www.dsi.com.

For more information on the Governor's Action Team and other Department of Community and Economic Development programs, visit www.NewPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development