Quay Pharmaceuticals sets up headquarters in Wales

Quay Pharmaceuticals is investing 2.7million ($4.5 million) in a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in North Wales, UK, where, with support from the Welsh Assembly Government, it will create 54 new high-quality jobs. Quay, which was established in 2001 by chief executive Mike Rubinstein, a former Director of the School of Pharmacy and Chemistry at Liverpool John Moores University, is relocating from The Wirral in the Liverpool area of the UK.

Operations at the new site will include early-stage R&D and clinical trials manufacturing for the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

The news was announced on November 10 by Ieuan Wyn Jones, Wales Minister for the Economy and Transport, who said a high percentage of the new jobs will be graduate and post graduate posts in R&D.

The Minister noted that "Quay Pharma is a welcome addition to the vibrant health care and bioscience sector we have in Wales which employs some 15,000 people and is worth around £1.3 billion ($2.16 billion) annually to the Welsh economy. I am pleased we have been able to provide support through the Single Investment Fund to facilitate the company's expansion program.'

The company has reached capacity at its split site on the Wirral and expanding and moving operations to Quay House, Parkway on the Deeside Industrial Park. At 3,24 square metres, the new facility is four times the size of its current premises. The move will safeguard 30 jobs.

Prof Rubinstein said the range of support offered by the Assembly Government to small and medium sized businesses had made Wales an attractive proposition for Quay Pharma's expansion. "We are operating in a growing market and now have the opportunity to take advantage of this. Our new premises will enable us to take on larger sale projects and manage contracts through to the final stage of clinical trials and we have every confidence our operation in Wales will have a long and secure future," the CEO said.

The company is currently fitting out laboratories and offices with the aim of opening in January 2010. The manufacturing operation is due to relocate during the first quarter of next year.