In The News

LOCAL COMPANY CENTER STAGE IN COVID-19 FIGHT

June 23, 2020  |  AstraZeneca, biopharmaceutical
AstraZeneca

West Chester’s local AstraZeneca plant takes on COVID-19.

 

The 460,000 square-foot biopharmaceutical manufacturing space, 8814 Trade Port Drive in West Chester, has received a Township permit to make equipment and building changes for the manufacture of a potential COVID-19 vaccine currently in clinical trials.

 

“Due to the obvious demand for a potential product to help protect the world population against this current threat, we are working to quickly make all necessary changes to the building to facilitate new equipment and process to support this important work,” writes architect John Chapman in application to West Chester Community Development Department.

 

Having met all requirements, West Chester zoning officials approved the permits this week.

 

 “West Chester is proud to be home to great innovators like AstraZeneca,” said Township Administrator Larry D. Burks. “As the world wages war on COVID-19, AstraZeneca is committed to addressing the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic and West Chester is honored to be a small part of that.”

 

One of West Chester’s goals in developing the Union Centre interchange on Interstate 75 nearly 23 years ago was to attract companies of regional, national and global presence. In 2007, Amylin Pharmaceuticals moved to this site representing, at that time, the largest capital investment in a manufacturing project in West Chester history.

 

The original project took place in two phases.  Amylin bought the building/property (43 acres) in December 2005. In 2007, Amylin began expansion of the second building.  The combined value of these two buildings at the time of development were more than $400 million.

 

AstraZeneca acquired Amylin in 2012.