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Pfizer building two new facilities in Richland Tow
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by tigers9 on November 8, 2010
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http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/11/pfizer_building_two_new_facili.html
Pfizer building two new facilities in Richland Township
Published: Monday, November 08, 2010, 6:49 PM Updated: Monday, November 08, 2010, 7:36 PM
Al Jones | Kalamazoo Gazette
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RICHLAND TOWNSHIP — The old saying is: “Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack.”
That is an old-time way for people in tropical areas to know the difference between milk snakes, relatively harmless creatures whose coloring helps them ward off predators, and coral snakes, whose colorful bands mark them as one of the world’s deadliest reptiles.
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If you find yourself in the marshlands of Florida or the rainforests of South America and realize you’ve been visited by a coral snake, you may soon have Pfizer’s animal health farm in Richland Township helping you out before the snake’s venom shuts down your nervous system and stops your heart.
The initial production of antivenin (the clinical term for anti-venom) for treating coral snake bites is the function of an 11,500-square-foot facility Pfizer is building near the center of the 2,100-acre animal health research farm it has in Richland Township. The facility is being built at a cost of $3.75 million.
View full sizeGazette FilePfizer spokesman Rick Chambers says, "With the acquisition of Wyeth by Pfizer, the new Pfizer was able to look at the antivenin supplies situation from a new perspective and has made the decision to begin making that product."
During the last week of October, ground was broken on it as well as a $6 million, 24,000-square-foot facility to research new medicines for horses. Both facilities are to be completed by summer of 2011.
“This investment by Pfizer underscores the important role that our Kalamazoo County site plays in both human and animal health,” said Pfizer spokesman Rick Chambers.
With the facility for horses, Chambers said, “This expands our capacity to research new treatments for horses.”
Kalamazoo County is Pfizer’s world headquarters for research into veterinary medicines for horses, cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep and domestic animals such as dogs and cats.
The new developments will come with four new full-time positions at the horse facility and two new full-time positions in the antivenin facility.
“Back in 2003, Wyeth made a business decision to close a plant used to produce the antivenin,” Chambers explained. “With the acquisition of Wyeth by Pfizer (completed in 2009), the new Pfizer was able to look at the antivenin supplies situation from a new perspective and has made the decision to begin making that product.”
Chambers said Wyeth, which was the world’s sole producer of the coral snake antivenin, created a five-year inventory of the product and the lifespan of that supply has been extended by a year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. So Pfizer’s production of more should be timely.
Chambers said the market for the product is fairly small. He said there are about 100 coral snake bite incidents per year. He did not know what the estimated market is — in terms of sales — with the antivenin.
Local workers will not have to worry about being bitten. There won’t be snakes at the facility. The company will buy snake venom from outside suppliers, Chambers said. While the initial processing of the antivenin will begin in Richland, the balance of its production will be completed at Pfizer’s manufacturing operation in Portage.
Contact Al Jones at ajones@kalamazoogazette.com or 269-388-8556.
Associated Press
About the coral snake:
• Scientific name is Micrurus fulvius; includes more than 50 different species.
• Lives in Central America, North America and South America.
• Venom is considered drop for drop among the most toxic among snakes.
• Venom is neurotoxic. It shuts down a victim’s nervous system, eventually stopping the heart.
• Spends lots of time underground in cracks and crevices, but is often active when ground is wet.
• Feeds on other snakes, lizards, reptiles and amphibians.
• Distinguished by large red bands and small yellow and black bands. Can reach a length of 3 feet.
Source: Various online sites and Gazette research
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RE: Pfizer building two new facilities in Richland
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by Cro on November 9, 2010
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Interesting that they will start producing coral snake antivinin again.
A 11,500-square-foot facility seems mighty large, just for the production of one type of AV, especially, if they are not keeping any snakes there.
One has to wonder if they eventually plan to start producing a Crotalidae polyvalent antivenin again ?
Best Regards
John Z
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