Biomedical Companies Blossom at Center
Published Dec 15, 2008
East Texas was partially built on the oil derrick, but the medical device lab may become the face of the area’s economic future.
Thanks to local efforts, the infrastructure to support a burgeoning biomedical industry has been built and should aid the next generation of company founders.
At the heart of these efforts is the Biotech Manufacturing Center of Texas in Athens. Started in 2003, the center can serve nearly every need of a growing medical device outfit, including office space, medical extrusions, injection molding, vacuum forming, pad printing and machine shop work. Another company operating across the street can handle sterilization needs.
With these assets, BMC has become a business accelerator, helping to grow fledgling companies, with the idea that they will grow and produce jobs for the region, says Samuel Austin, BMC executive director.
The sector offers significant growth opportunities, especially around minimally invasive devices and nanotechnology. In Athens, three companies are tenants of BMC’s 45,000-square-foot center. Officials want to house several small companies in hopes that a few will blossom into major players.
A center success story is Pharma-Pen Inc., which developed a disposable product for patients to give themselves injection therapy in a sterile environment. Based on its technology and growth at the center, Pharma-Pen was acquired in 2007 by West Pharmaceutical Services.
Also in Athens, Argon Medical Devices has developed single-use pressure-monitoring devices for use in cardiology, radiology and critical care. Argon has benefited from private equity investments that allowed it to acquire another company and its technology.
And the next generation is being fueled by the University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler, which encourages multi-disciplinary research in biochemistry, cell biology and immunology.
In addition, BMC and local schools are training high school and college students for future jobs in medical manufacturing and machining.
“Texas is becoming a biotechnical state, and that’s what we want to be part of,” Austin says.
Story by Roy Moore
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