Supernus Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system diseases, will potentially add up to 160 new jobs over the next five years as part of its expansion in Montgomery County. The company – currently located in Rockville – is relocating its headquarters, research and development, and pilot-scale manufacturing operations to an 118,000 square-foot space on Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg. Supernus, which currently employs 156 workers in the county, expects to move into the new space in 2019, with construction wrapping up in 2020.
“Supernus is excited to continue its long tenure in Montgomery County and to expand its headquarters in support of our company’s growth,” said Frank Mottola, vice president of quality, GMP operations and information technology of Supernus Pharmaceuticals.
For the past 25 years, Supernus Pharmaceuticals (first as a development organization, then as a U.S. subsidiary of Shire, and now as an independent company) has worked toward creating new medicines in neurology and psychiatry. The company currently markets Trokendi XR® to prevent migraines and treat epilepsy, as well as Oxtellar XR® for epilepsy, and is developing several product candidates for the psychiatry market, including potential treatments for impulsive aggression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
“For more than two decades, Supernus has been hard at work in Maryland developing medicines that have the potential to help patients around the globe,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “We are pleased that the success of Supernus’ products has led to this expansion and the potential to double its workforce in Montgomery County.”
“Supernus Pharmaceuticals is doing critically important work in creating new medicines for the disciplines of neurology and psychiatry,” said Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett. “We are very pleased that they are expanding their footprint in the county.”
To assist with project costs, the Maryland Department of Commerce has approved funds amounting to $800,000 through the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF), which can be conditionally applied to expenses. Additionally, Montgomery County is providing a $500,000 conditional grant through its Economic Development Fund, and the City of Gaithersburg is providing a grant up to $400,000 through its Economic Development Opportunity Fund.
Maryland Commerce is also providing a $90,000 training grant through the Partnership for Workforce Quality (PWQ) program, which will allow Supernus to train a group of employees on high-tech IT process controls and capabilities. The PWQ program was established in 1989 to invest in workforce training, particularly in the manufacturing and technology fields. After not receiving funding for a number of years, the program was recapitalized with $1 million in Maryland Commerce’s FY2018 budget and was part of Governor Hogan’s 2017 Maryland Jobs Initiative.
“Supernus is one of the fastest growing biotech/pharma companies in our region and we are proud to support their continued growth in Maryland," said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “Supernus joins a number of life sciences companies, including Paragon Bioservices, Altimmune, and others, that have expanded their operations in our state over the past year and added a significant number of jobs.”
“It’s a great day for Montgomery County with this significant announcement in our life sciences industry,” said David Petr, CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. “From our scientific talent and world-class infrastructure, to our robust connectivity and purpose-driven quality of life, this business expansion once again proves Montgomery County is the place to be for success in innovation.”
“The City of Gaithersburg is delighted to welcome Supernus, and we’re happy that our economic development incentives were a factor in the company’s decision to relocate here,” said Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman. “We know that the quality of life in our community is an attractive component, and we look forward to Supernus joining the dozens of other life science companies that have chosen Gaithersburg as their base.”