Georgia Poised, But Will It Push Bio?

Both Plosilla and Pellerito cite the Atlanta-Athens, Ga., corridor as a contender to join the elite biotech bastions of San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and North Carolina's Research Triangle.

The International Scene Switzerland boasts on a per-capita basis one of the world's largest concentrations of biotech industry, with 1,000 employees per million inhabitants. Geneva's standing as a European biotech center figures to grow as Serono, the continent's largest biotechnology company, builds a $240-million research campus. The move consolidates operations to increase efficiency.         "We're concentrating what we already have in Geneva on one site, but we're also planning for expansion over the next eight years," says James Grozier, Serono's project leader. Serono, Europe's largest biotechnology company, is consolidating its operations into a large campus in Geneva.         The new Serono complex eventually will cover approximately 10.5 acres (4.3 hectares). The "Horizon Serono" project, set for completion in 2006, will house 1,200 laboratory, research, administration and other personnel currently working at other locations.         The Australian State of Queensland continues robust investment in the science and research sector. Queensland has invested AU$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) since 1998 and plans future investment of AU$100 million (US$70.4 million).         Pfizer plans to invest NT$700 million ($US20.6 million) in its new headquarters in Tamsui, Taiwan.

        "Georgia will give North Carolina a run for its money," Plosila predicts.
        David A. Dodd, president and CEO of Norcross, Ga. -based Serologicals Corp., is also chairman of the Georgia Biomedical Partnership. He says the state has a nice mix of companies and notes it ranks 7th in the nation in conferment of biologic and science degrees. The Center for Disease Control and the state's research universities give it a home court advantage, he believes.
        "Our biggest challenge is creating a strong awareness of the industry," Dodd says.
        Dodd was a featured speaker at the Georgia Bio Summit, a venue that saw Gov. Sonny Perdue proclaim "Life Sciences Day" in the state.
        But for Georgia to crack the top tier of biotech meccas, state government must step up with some world-class incentives, says Alan Roemer, vice president of business development at Pharmasset, a Tucker, Ga., firm specializing in small molecule therapeutics for viral infections and cancer. He says the state must come up with deals similar to the $510-million package Florida used to lure the Scripps Research Institute to Palm Beach (see North American Reports from January 2004).
        "What the state is lacking is government incentives and bona fide support from the legislature," Roemer says. "We're a little bit behind the curve in response to our neighboring states. North Carolina has real incentives and there's a reason North Carolina has pharmaceutical facilities. There's no question great science is being performed here in Georgia and has been for quite some time. Proclamations are nice, but they don't necessarily translate to dollars."