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Oklahoma Becoming Biotech Industry's Hotspot-Featured Video
By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma is quickly becoming known as a state which business interest stretch beyond energy. In recent years, the state's biotech sector has seen tremendous growth.
Many of the biotech companies are headquartered in Research Park, a built-in infrastructure which has become the talk of the biotech industry nationwide.
Cytovance Biologics is one of 30 biotech companies based in Oklahoma. It produces a range of treatments for everything from cancer to diabetes. With 50 employees on the payroll, it's a relatively small company, but the future looks bright.
"Our projected growth should put us at about 100-120 a year from now," said Cytovance CEO Darren Head. "Five years from now, we could be in the 200 mark."
They are big goals from the chief executive who never would have considered setting up shop in Oklahoma after working in Georgia and North Carolina's biotech sector. After just one visit, he was sold.
"I was really shocked to know they had the park here and the infrastructure for a biotech and the facility down the street rivals anything that's in the industry," Head said. "It was really a shock."
The shock quickly became word of mouth for researchers.
"There's a lot of interest, especially from other scientists who are finding out about Oklahoma from other scientists about the neat things that are happening here," said Jim Mason, vice president of State Chamber-Technology.
Currently, a joint resolution requesting funding for adult stem cell research is making its way through the state legislature.
If approved, it's expected to have a strong impact on the biotech sector. Oklahoma could see more startup companies inside Research Park.
"One of the things that we find that give Oklahoma a real advantage, is having actually facilities available for companies to locate," Mason said.
Cytovance has no plans to delve into adult stem cell research, but it's not ruling anything out.
There are about 1,000 research-related jobs in Research Park. The average salary is a little more than $50,000 a year.
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