Kite Pharma plans to open the facility in Urbana.
Frederick, Md (KM) Kite Pharma plans to open a biologics manufacturing facility on a 20-acre site at the Urbana Corporate Center. The company is a Los Angeles, California-based biopharmaceutical firm which develops innovative cancer therapies.
“This is great news for Frederick County,” says County Executive Jan Gardner in a statement. “Our businesses are on the leading edge of finding the cure for cancer. We’re excited to welcome Kite to our life science and pharma family. We are pleased to fast-track their project and want them to know our support will continue into the future. Frederick County is a great place to do business.”
A news release from the County Executive’s office says Kite plans to create a significant number of job opportunities at its location in Urbana.
“This new facility in Urbana builds on our substantial technical capabilities and rapid progress in making personalized chimeric antigen receptor T an T cell receptor therapies for people with cancer,” says Time Moore, Executive Vice President of Technical Operations at Kite.
The Maryland Commerce Department says it has approved a $2-million-dollar conditional loan, and a $20,000 workforce training grant for Kite through the Advantage Maryland Fund, and a $200,000 grant through the Partnership for Workplace program. . Frederick County will also provide a Commercial and Industrial Tax Credit which is offered to new and expanding businesses that focus on manufacturing, fabricating and assembly. The State Commerce Department says Kite is also eligible for various state and local tax credits such as the Job Creation Tax Credit and the More Jobs for Marylanders Tax Credit, which provides incentives for manufacturers to create new jobs in the state.
Kite Pharma was acquired by Gilead Sciences, based in Foster City, California, in 2017 in a deal worth $11.9-billion. Kite has 700 employees at facilities in California and the Netherlands.
The plant proposed for 9021 Bennett Creek Boulevard is expected to be completed by late 2021.
By Kevin McManus