By Anthony Clark
Business editor, Gainesville Sun
An Alachua-based biotech company has landed a Department of Defense contract that could be worth as much as $360 million over 10 years to develop manufacturing processes for drugs to treat bioterrorism and radiological threats.
Nanotherapeutics plans to build a $150 million, 145,000-square-foot expansion and add as many as 150 new employees with an average salary of $90,000 as a result of the contract, according to a 2012 application for tax rebates.
Company officials could not be reached for comment Friday.
Nanotherapeutics currently has 45 employees at an office in Progress Corporate Park in Alachua.
The University of Florida Foundation was working with the company to build its new manufacturing facility in a 280-acre corporate park established last year on farmland adjacent to Progress Corporate Park.
Nanotherapeutics received the award Wednesday and announced it on its website Friday.
The base contract is for $135.8 million and two years with options up to 10 years and $358.9 million.
