DPx Holdings B.V. and its business unit Patheon, a leading provider of contract development and commercial manufacturing services to the global pharmaceutical industry, will expand its operations in Pitt County, North Carolina.

The company plans to create 488 jobs in Greenville by the end of 2019 and invest $159 million to increase the site’s capabilities as well as modernize the site and develop energy efficiency programs at the facility. The investment will also make the Greenville site home of Patheon’s North American Sterile facility as well as boost growth for its Pharmaceutical Development Services offering, which will be built out at the site.

“We are committed to our work with local and state government officials as well as academia to provide the best opportunities to build sustainable and successful manufacturing and product development operations in Greenville. We appreciate the support and collaboration of the Governor’s office and the Grenville Chamber of Commerce to establish a world class operation in Greenville,” Franco Negron, Senior Vice President of the contract manufacturing business for North America at Patheon said.

The project was made possible in part by an award to Patheon from the state Job Development Investment Grant program, as voted by the state Economic Investment Committee. Receipt of the award is based on proof of job creation and other performance requirements. JDIGs are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state, and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant.

Under the terms of the company’s JDIG award, Patheon is eligible to receive up to twelve annual grants equal to 59 percent of the state personal income tax withholdings from the eligible new jobs created since the date of the initial award. Receipt of each annual grant is based on state-certified proof that the company has fulfilled incremental job creation requirements. Over twelve years, the JDIG award could yield aggregate benefits to Patheon of more than $6.3 million upon the creation of 488 jobs.

Patheon contracts with large and small pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to develop, manufacture and distribute its drugs and therapies. DPx Holdings’ U.S. headquarters is located in Durham and the company also has a manufacturing facility in High Point. The company currently has more than 1,680 employees in North Carolina, including more than 1,000 at its Pitt County facility. The expansion will address Patheon’s need for additional manufacturing and development capacity.

“To know that a growing company like DPx Holdings has chosen to expand its Patheon facility in North Carolina is a great sign that we are on the right track in building our state’s economy,” said Governor Pat McCrory. “This company is part of one of the fastest growing industries in the country, and it is great to have them call North Carolina home.”

Other partners who assisted with this announcement include: The N.C. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of N.C., NC Community College System, East Carolina University, Pitt Community College, Pitt County and Pitt County Development Commission.