Governor Tom Corbett announced that ViroPharma Inc. – a homegrown biopharmaceutical company – will expand its operations in Exton, Chester County and create 151 new, high-paying jobs.
“ViroPharma is a true Pennsylvania success that continues to grow and create jobs in the region,” said Corbett. “What started as a small team of entrepreneurs in Exton has now evolved into an international biopharmaceutical company employing hundreds of Pennsylvanians.
ViroPharma will nearly double its current available space by leasing an additional 71,000-square feet of office space to accommodate planned growth. The expansion will enable the company to retain its existing 188 employees and create at least 151 new jobs within three years.
The company received a $583,000 funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development, including a $130,000 Pennsylvania First grant and $453,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits.
“For us it is about growth. ViroPharma has been in Exton for many years and we love our home here,” said ViroPharma President and CEO Vincent J. Milano. “We’re committed to this area for the long-term and look forward to creating opportunities in this community.”
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, or GAT, economic development professionals who work directly with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. GAT worked with the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) to support ViroPharma’s expansion.
“Chester County is fortunate to have companies like ViroPharma who continually innovate and reinvent themselves,” said CCEDC President and CEO Gary Smith. “Their expansion is the latest evidence that the life science community in Chester County is alive and well.”
Founded in 1994 by a small team of entrepreneurial scientists in Exton, ViroPharma is focused on developing drugs for rare diseases in which there is an unmet medical need. The organization has grown into an international biopharmaceutical company with significant operations in Europe, in addition to Pennsylvania.
For more information about ViroPharma, visit www.viropharma.com.
For more information on the Governor’s Action Team and Pennsylvania’s other economic development initiatives, visit www.newPA.comor call 1-866-466-3972.