Business & Tech

Owners of Botox Moving to Bridgewater

The company will finish phase one of construction in August.

With the promise of 660 new jobs in the next three years, Allergan is moving corporate offices to Bridgewater.

According to Howard Turbowitz, economic development officer for the township, the pharmaceutical company is moving to 200 Somerset Corporate Boulevard, Building 200, with construction already beginning.

“They have been in existence for 60 years, with 10,000 employees in more than 100 countries,” he said. “Almost half of the business is in ophthalmology and the rest is in Botox.”

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“They own Botox,” he added.

Allergan started as an eye care company, and focuses on many medical specialties, including neurosciences, medical aesthetics, medical dermatology and more. It has many pharmaceuticals, medical devices, over-the-counter products and more.

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Allergan currently has a subsidiary in Bedminster with 20 employees, which will be moving to Bridgewater, and its headquarters are in Irvine, California.

The construction, Turbowitz said, will be done in three phases, with the first expecting to be completed in August. That phase, he said, will entail opening the fifth and sixth floors of the building, with 120 employees.

Phase two, Turbowitz said, will be done a year later in August 2013, and will double the size of the space, bringing the total number of employees to 240.

Turbowitz said phase three is expected to be completed in August 2013, with another 300 employees.

“It will be a total of 90,000 square feet,” he said. “And there will be about 660 employees.”

Turbowitz said this move was part of work done by Gov. Chris Christie when he traveled to California to meet with companies.

“He encouraged many to come to New Jersey, and Allergan was one that took him up on the offer,” he said. “It was part of the push Christie made when he was in California.”

Cathy Taylor, director of Global Corporate Affairs & Public Relations for Allergan, said the company was looking for locations outside of California for new headquarters.

“We conducted an extensive search process initially looking at all areas outside of California,” she said, “but quickly landed on New Jersey due to the pool of talent in the pharma/device industry in the region, as well as the proximity to medical centers and universities.”

According to a release from the governor’s office, the opening of the new offices will put about $12 million of private investment into the state’s economy.

“Our aggressive efforts to promote economic growth and foster job creation and investment in our state are delivering results for New Jerseyans. Allergan is a world-class, innovative company that is committing to our state and people with several hundred high quality, research and development new jobs and nearly $12 million in private investment,” Christie said in the release.

“Creating good paying, private sector jobs that are sustainable over the long term is the number one priority of my administration, and Allergan’s decision to choose New Jersey is just the latest indication that the Jersey comeback has begun.”

This will be a research and development facility opening in Bridgewater.

“We thank Gov. Christie, his staff and the Economic Development Authority for their support in helping Allergan continue to grow in the state of New Jersey," said Scott Whitcup—executive vice president, head of research and development for chief scientific officer for Allergan—in the release.

"Allergan has been proud to have a research and development office in New Jersey focused on the development of pharmaceuticals for the past four years, and this expansion will enable us to further tap into the talent of New Jersey residents. As a multi-specialty health care company, a critical component to our business is the scientific innovation derived from the work of our R&D facilities throughout the United States. The expansion of our facility in New Jersey will enable us to further enhance our product pipeline and advance our pursuit of novel medical therapies for patients."

Taylor said the decision allows the company to really tap into the possibilities of utilizing New Jersey talents at the company.

"This expansion will enable us to further tap into the talent of New Jersey residents,” she said. “As a multi-specialty health care company, a critical component to our business is the scientific innovation derived from the work of our R&D facilities throughout the United States. The expansion of our facility in New Jersey will enable us to further enhance our product pipeline and advance our pursuit of novel medical therapies for patients."  

But most importantly, Turbowitz said, will be the jobs created for Bridgewater and other nearby residents.

“Bridgewater will be getting all these jobs,” he said.

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