ROCKVILLE, Md.--Human Genome Sciences opened a $42 million plant here this month, where it said it will manufacture drugs resulting from genomics research and development. Calling his company the "world's genomics pioneer," William Haseltine, CEO of Human Genome Sciences, said, "HGS was the first group anywhere to sequence most of the genes in the human genome. HGS was also the first company to place three genomics-derived drugs into human clinical trials." He added, "Our hope is that HGS will be the first company to manufacture and market genomics-derived drugs."
The plant is situated on Johns Hopkins University's Belward Research Campus, a 138-acre tract to be developed by the university to focus on research and development laboratories, associated office space, government agencies, and healthcare delivery facilities. Construction by Human Genome Sciences is already underway on a 40,000-square-foot expansion shell to house an additional production line adjacent to the new 80,000-square-foot manufacturing and process development plant.