U-M's North Campus Research Center attracts first start-up, BoroPharm

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Private enterprise is moving back to the old Pfizer campus in Ann Arbor, albeit in just a small corner of the complex for now.

BoroPharm, a chemical development and manufacturing start-up from East Lansing, is moving into what is now called the North Campus Research Center, along with a growing army of researchers from the University of Michigan. The university bought the 174-acre campus and its 30 buildings last year.

"We're a small-but-growing company," says Todd Zahn, president and CEO of BoroPharm. "We are looking for new hires. The company has been profitable and we're doing well. That's why we moved to the NCRC, because we can grow without building or renovating space."

BoroPharm was founded in 2005 by two Michigan State University professors. It's moving into Building 40, a specialized free-standing chemical production building.

The company recently hired an ex-Pfizer employee who worked on the campus before the drug-maker pulled up stakes in 2007. BoroPharm expects to hire about 3-5 people over the next year. "We'd also like to bring on some students as well," Zahn says.

Source: Todd Zahn, president and CEO of BoroPharm
Writer: Jon Zemke