MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown/Monongalia County/West Virginia University community is excited to welcome South Korean low-cost insulin manufacturer, UNDBIO. The company has selected Morgantown as a launch point for their efforts to gain a foothold in the national market.
“It will be a cost-effective insulin product that will benefit the people of America nationally, and we’re very excited,” Monongalia County Commission president Tom Bloom said.
UNDBIO has entered into a lease with WVU, and a groundbreaking is tentatively set for September 2023 on the facility, estimated to cost about $100 million. The company is expected to employ up to 200 people in the first three years, and that could grow to 1,200 at full production.
“This will be over at the WVU Research Park; it’s about 22 acres there,” Bloom said. “That’s the land opposite of the Suncrest Towne Centre that’s vacant.”
Morgantown mayor Jenny Selin said the announcement is great news for the community and those advocating for living wage jobs.
“We’re excited that they have selected property that is in the city,” Selin said. “We’re working collaboratively with the university, our healthcare community, the county, and the state.”
UNDBIO officials plan to visit Morgantown and elected officials this week. As part of their visit to the area, the delegation is expected to conduct a site visit and meet with WVU officials and local elected leaders.
“We’re very fortunate that UNDBIO is going to invest in our county, and we made it very clear to them that we will provide ongoing support for UNDBIO as we do for all businesses in the county,” Bloom said.
According to Bloom, UNDBIO considered the WVU Research Corporation on Chestnut Ridge Road as a location, but early in the process it was determined that it would not be cost-effective. UNDBIO then selected the WVU Research Park for the production facility.
“What the Mylan building is doing is attracting individuals to come look at it, and if it doesn’t fit their needs, we provide areas in the county,” Bloom said. “So, it’s a really important part of attracting businesses.”
Bloom said the team of Monongalia County leaders and economic developers has been working from several angles to ease the loss of Viatris and the estimated 1,300 jobs. Since then, local leaders have worked to bring Mountaintop Beverage and Owens & Minor Healthcare Logistics and Supply Company to the area, working closely with state officials to use available incentives to drive new business to the area.
“In two years, we have found another pharmaceutical company, we have a bottling company, and we have other growth going on at WestRidge,” Bloom said. “We’re still moving forward economically, and I do want to thank the governor and his economic staff.”