Life Sciences in Alabama

Life Sciences in Alabama

Alabama is home to seven research universities, a highly accomplished contract research organization, a new biotechnology research institute, and 90 plus life sciences companies. The state has produced six FDA approved cancer drugs, and is on the forefront with major initiatives to fight flu diseases.

From the Space Shuttle experiments to discovering the origin of HIV-1. the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a global leader in healthcare and research, most notably in autoimmunology, neurobiology, X-ray crystallography and seaking the cure for cancer. UAB is Alabama's largest employer, with a workforce of more than 18,000, and received over $193 million from the National Institutes of Health in 2007, and a total of $423 million in research grants/contracts.

Six cancer drugs approved by the FDA were discovered at Birmingham’s Southern Research Institute, one of the nation's top private contract researchers.

Huntsville-based HudsonAlpha Institute conducts research in biotechnology and partners with for-profit companies to develop biotech products. 

The $130 million project is set in a campus-like environment on 120 acres at Cummings Research Park, the fourth largest research park in the world.  HudsonAlpha's 120-acre parcel features 270,000 square-feet of laboratory, office and common areas. Currently, 12 for-profit companies are co-located in the building, along with the institute's not-for-profit researchers and administration.

The University of South Alabama Center for Medicine in Mobile is a leader in cancer research, medical genetics and pulmonary function, utilizing 300,000 square feet of research laboratories.

Gambro Renal Products, part of Gambro Group, a Sweden-based global leader in kidney and cell-based therapies, is building a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Opelika. The plant will produce 10 million Polyflux dialyzers annually to serve patients with kidney failure who must undergo dialysis treatment several times weekly for survival. Construction is expected to be complete by 2010.

Brookwood Pharmaceuticals’ scientific team has industry-leading experience in a wide-range of drug delivery systems - with particular depth in long-acting parenterals.

Brookwood Pharmaceuticals was founded and is based in Birmingham. In 2007, Minnesota-based SurModics acquired Brookwood.

In 2008, Brookwood and SurModics acquired a new facility in Birmingham that will expand its capacity for research, development activities and clinical manufacturing. Additionally, the building will be SurModics’ corporate center for manufacturing of drug delivery products for pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. An investment of $30 million is estimated for the facility and associated renovation.  Projected employment could reach 300 over the next three to five years.

The facility expansion represents growth in both R&D and manufacturing services at Brookwood.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals was awarded a $102.6 million, four-year contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to develop the influenza neuraminidase inhibitor, peramivir, for the treatment of seasonal and life-threatening influenza, including avian flu.

The 2007 award made to BioCryst is part of a larger HHS initiative to develop new therapies and vaccines expand the ability of the United States to respond quickly to a pandemic.

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