Genome Developments Entering New Era

Human Genome Sciences Inc. is building a new $40 million to $45 million manufacturing and process-development plant in Montgomery County, Md., to produce drugs based on HGSI's human-gene discovery program. Scheduled for completion in 1998, the 80,000-sq-ft building also will be used to formulate drugs and quality control. "We are now making the planned transition from drug discovery to drug development and testing," says William Haseltine, chairman and CEO. "The products made in this facility will be used in clinical trials to assess their safety and efficacy in addressing serious unmet medical needs. The facility will also be used to manufacture materials to support early sales of products in North America. It is gratifying to see our dreams turned into brick and mortar." The facility will be the first building on the Johns Hopkins Belward Research Campus. HGSI holds rights to acquire additional parcels on the campus.