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Senator Baucus Announces Study for New Montana Biotech Manufacturing Facility

Senator’s Economic Development Summit Jump Starts Partnership to Create New Montana Jobs, Bolster Montana’s Biotech Industry

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus http://baucus.senate.gov/ announced today a major step toward creating hundreds of good-paying jobs in Montana’s rapidly emerging biotechnology industry. Baucus launched a partnership formed to study the design and feasibility of a major biotech manufacturing facility in Bozeman.

"This is not only a great step toward creating new good-paying jobs in the biomedical research and manufacturing industry, but it sends the signal far and wide that Montana is serious about business," said Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. "A new manufacturing facility in Bozeman has enormous potential in leading the way to more affordable medical treatments and technological advancements while boosting our economy in a sustainable way."

To build upon the efforts of his Montana Economic Development Summits, Baucus is working with Montana Economic Developers Association, the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, Prospera Business Network and LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals of Bozeman to launch the study.

The proposed manufacturing facility would be designed to meet FDA requirements for Phase III vaccine trials. LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals has an immediate use for such a facility as it moves forward with developing a norovirus vaccine. LigoCyte officials expect the plan to create 30 to 40 initial jobs with an average wage of $60,000 to $70,000/year. Eventually, the company believes the new facility will support 200 to 300 jobs good-paying jobs.

Montana Manufacturing Extension Center director Steve Holland hails the effort as a great step forward for Montana jobs. "A facility like this will cultivate green, sustainable, well paid jobs while increasing Montana’s biotech industry infrastructure. Senator Baucus truly understands the potential for growing the kinds of jobs Montana needs at a time we need it most," said Holland.

LigoCyte leaders met with investors at Baucus’ 2007 Butte jobs summit and later finalized an agreement that landed the company an additional $28 million in funding for vaccine development.

"Our company is a testament to the importance of a strong partnership between government and private industry in creating new opportunities for Montanans. We appreciate Senator Baucus’ efforts to put Montana on the map as a good place for biotech companies to grow and create good jobs for the future," said Rob Bargatze, LigoCyte’s Chief Scientific Officer.

Supporting Montana Jobs: Montana Economic Development Summits and Beyond

A portion of funds left over from Baucus’ 5th Economic Development Summit in 2010 will go toward the study looking into the design and feasibility of a new biotech manufacturing facility in Bozeman.

Supporting Montana Innovation, Biotechnology Jobs:

As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Baucus championed the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project which gives tax credits and grants to small biotech companies in Montana to help offset up to 50 percent the cost of qualifying research. Innovative Montana companies are already benefitting from the program through tax breaks and new job opportunities.

Contact: Kate Downen 406-224-5056 or Kathy Weber 406-657-5915

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