Pharmaceutical company opens 160,000-sf Keystone State facility while retaining HQ in Elmwood Park
India-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals recently relocated a distribution facility from New Jersey to the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania.
On Oct. 26, the company held a ribbon cutting on its new 160,000-square-foot distribution center in Upper Macungie Township. It will be its largest distribution center in North America and its sole U.S. distribution hub. Glenmark maintains its U.S. headquarters in Elmwood Park, according to its website.
The facility handles distribution of all products across America, to more than 320 locations in 43 states.
Glenmark manufactures prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals at other locations and ships them to Upper Macungie for distribution to customers that include pharmacies and healthcare providers.
“We chose the Lehigh Valley for very good reasons,” said Marc Kikuchi, Glenmark’s president & business head for North America. “It’s exceptional workforce, strong logistics network, and proximity to our customers and U.S. headquarters. But the single most important reason … it’s the people.”
A Glenmark representative did not immediately respond to NJBIZ for a request for information about the former Garden State site.
Life sciences is one of Lehigh Valley’s fastest-growing sectors, said Kristin Cahayla-Hoffman, vice president of business development & attraction at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., who welcomed Glenmark in remarks at the dedication ceremony.
Glenmark has locations in more than 80 countries, including 11 manufacturing facilities and six research and design centers. The company employs more than 17,000 people worldwide.
Legal issues
In July, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport joined a coalition of 48 states and territories, including Pennsylvania, announcing a $29.6 million settlement with Glenmark. The agreement resolved allegations that the drug manufacturer engaged in a conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate generic prescription drug prices, reduce competition and restrain trade, according to a statement from the Attorney General’s office.
New Jersey’s share of the multistate settlement was $232,315. The company also agreed to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws, the Attorney General’s office added.
The company also did not respond to a request for comment on the settlement.
A version of this story was originally published on Lehigh Valley Business, an NJBIZ sister publication. Digital Operations Specialist Dawn Furnas contributed to the report for NJBIZ.
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