Tonix Pharma Signs Agreement with City of Hamilton to Build Vaccine Manufacturing Center, Bring More Bioscience Jobs to the Bitterroot
Hamilton mayor Dominic Farrenkopf (left) shakes hands with Tonix Pharmaceuticals founder and CEO, Dr. Seth Lederman after signing a development agreement between the city and Tonix at an event hosted by the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority on October 19, 2022. Photo courtesy of Tonix.
October 28, 2022
By Christina Henderson
On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, representatives from Ravalli County’s public and private sectors joined Dr. Seth Lederman, founder and CEO of Tonix Pharmaceuticals, in celebrating the signing of the development agreement between the City of Hamilton and Tonix, which is substantially investing in a new biomanufacturing center on Old Corvallis Road. This public/private sector collaboration will bring more high-tech bioscience jobs to the Bitterroot Valley.
Guests included Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf, Ravalli County Commissioners, Associate Director for Science Management of Rocky Mountain Labs Dr. Marshall Bloom, and former Senator and Ambassador Max Baucus, who was an early supporter of the project. Officials gathered at the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA) office in Hamilton to celebrate the signing of the development agreement, which has been shepherded to completion by RCEDA executive director Julie Foster.
Dr. Seth Lederman addressed local leaders in Hamilton on October 19 including Ravalli County Commissioners, Associate Director for Science Management of Rocky Mountain Labs Dr. Marshall Bloom, and former Senator and Ambassador Max Baucus, an early supporter of Tonix. Photo by Christina Henderson for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance.
Named a Montana High-growth Company to Watch in 2022 by the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, Tonix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for central nervous system disorders and infectious diseases, including a live COVID-19 vaccine.
“We at Tonix are excited to be a part of the growing biotech industry here in Montana,” said Dr. Seth Lederman. “Now, more than ever, we see the necessity of bringing the manufacture of life-saving vaccines back to American shores, and Tonix is thrilled to be a leader in the re-domestication of our supply chain. There has been a longstanding effort to turn southwest Montana into a renowned biotech corridor, and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”
The planned BSL-2 center is intended to manufacture vaccines for commercial use. Rocky Mountain Labs, a premier National Institutes of Health research facility, and a GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals manufacturing facility are also located in Hamilton.
About the Publisher:
Launched in 2014, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit association of more than 200 high tech and manufacturing companies and affiliates creating high-paying jobs in Montana. For more information, visit MTHighTech.org or subscribe to our biweekly newsletter.
About the Author:
Christina Quick Henderson has served as Executive Director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance since its launch in April 2014. She teaches in the University of Montana College of Business and writes for Montana Business Quarterly and other publications.