Area Development
Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation opened its Nephron Nitrile, a plant that will produce American-made, medical-grade nitrile gloves, on the company’s campus at Saxe-Gotha Industrial Park in Lexington County, South Carolina. The project is expected to create 250 jobs.

Nephron Nitrile, which will be headquartered in more than 400,000 square feet of space in the Kennedy Innovation Complex, represents an investment of more than $100 million in the Midlands, according to company officials.

"This is a historic day for our company, and, we believe, for South Carolina," said CEO Lou Kennedy. "Over the course of the last year, we have poured every bit of creativity, energy and resources we have at our disposal into doing our part, as a proud Made-in-America manufacturer, to respond to an unprecedented crisis. Nephron Nitrile is the latest part of our ongoing effort to make South Carolina the nationwide example for effectively responding to America's needs, this time by shoring up the domestic supply chain."

Last July, Kennedy announced an investment of $215 million for Lexington County, bringing 380 new full-time jobs to the area by 2024, and adding new office, warehouse and vaccine production space. This announcement included the establishment of the Kennedy Innovation Complex, home of Nephron Nitrile, and these projects are ahead of schedule. Since re-locating company headquarters to Lexington County from Orlando, Nephron has invested more than a half billion dollars in the region, creating almost 2,000 full and part time jobs.

"It is critical that South Carolina lead the charge in bringing the production of life-saving medications and supplies back home to the United States," said Governor McMaster. "After last year's supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I announced a new initiative aimed at expanding recruitment efforts of pharmaceutical and medical supply manufacturers in the Palmetto State. Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation's continued investment in South Carolina and our people will go a long way toward creating much-needed independence in this industry. This great company continues to show that we have the talent and the ability to do anything we put our minds to, right here in South Carolina."

A West Columbia, South Carolina-based company, Nephron develops and produces safe, affordable generic inhalation solutions and suspension products. The company also operates an industry-leading 503B Outsourcing Facility division which produces pre-filled sterile syringes, luer-lock vials, IV bottles and IV bags for hospitals across America, in an effort to alleviate drug shortage needs. Nephron launched a CLIA-certified diagnostics lab last year where it tests people for COVID-19 and administers vaccinations.