Area Development
Nanotherapeutics, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, will invest $127 million in an Alachua, Florida, manufacturing facility, where the firm plans to create 150 jobs. The facility is being established as a result of a biodefense contract awarded last month by the US Department of Defense.

The overall contract was awarded for $135 million, with additional options included that could bring the total award to $358 million. The funding will establish a Medical Countermeasures Advanced Development and Manufacturing capability for the Department of Defense. This will enable faster and more effective development of medical countermeasures to protect and treat military populations against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks and outbreaks of naturally occurring emerging and genetically engineering infectious diseases.

The DOD contract was granted to Nanotherapeutics, as the prime contractor, and its industry partners after a highly competitive bid process. The ultimate goal for the award is to reduce the overall time and cost associated with the development and manufacturing of Food and Drug Administration approved Medical Counter Measures.

Headquartered in Alachua and currently operating in Progress Corporate Park, Nanotherapeutics began as a start-up in the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator. Nanotherapeutics will integrate into a new state-of-the-art facility flexible, single use, disposable equipment that can provide our military’s national security requirements for Medical Counter Measures now and in the foreseeable future.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Thanks in part to the great STEM and business-support resources that UF provides to the region, Nanotherapeutics is going to create 150 jobs for families in Alachua. Florida was able to provide Nanotherapeutics with resources to ensure its continuing growth in our state. This is a victory for the families and communities that will be served by this company’s investment and the new jobs that are coming with its expansion.”

“The Innovation Gainesville economic development plan clearly identifies the life sciences as a top opportunity for job growth,” said John Carlson, chairman of the Council for Economic Outreach. “Nanotherapeutics’ brings that opportunity to reality and demonstrates that we are committed to growing jobs, growing companies and growing opportunities right here in Alachua County.”