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Emergent BioSolutions, a Rockville-based biopharmaceutical company, will open a biotechnology manufacturing facility in East Baltimore and create up to 125 jobs over the next five years.

The company, which focuses on the development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines and therapeutics, has purchased bioscience nonprofit MdBio Foundation's 55,000-square-foot BioProcessing Center at 5901 E. Lombard St. for $8.2 million to enhance its manufacturing infrastructure.

The BioProcessing Center was completed in 1996 on land leased from the City of Baltimore near the Johns Hopkins University Bayview Research Campus. Shortly after completing construction, the foundation negotiated a long-term lease with Bio Science Contract Production Corp. of New York, a contract biomanufacturing company.

In 2000, BSCP was sold to life sciences firm Cambrex Corp. of East Rutherford, N.J., which assumed the lease on the facility. In 2007, Cambrex was sold to biotechnology firm Lonza Group Ltd. of Basel, Switzerland.

Emergent is best known for manufacturing BioThrax, the first and only vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax disease. The company also develops vaccines and treatments for botulism, tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis B and Chlamydia, among other diseases.

"The acquisition of the Baltimore facility reflects our commitment to both continually creating jobs and investing additional capital in the State of Maryland, where Emergent headquarters and one of its product development sites are located," said Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi, Emergent president and COO, in a statement.

"We extend our sincere appreciation to the state and local governments for their ongoing support of our efforts to develop our local manufacturing capabilities and look forward to growing Emergent's presence in the state."

"Though no longer owner of the center, MdBio will continue its important mission to promote and support the bioscience community throughout the state," said J.J. Finkelstein, chair of MdBio Foundation and president and CEO of RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, in the statement. "The Foundation's scholarship and educational programs, as well as its business advisory services, have been exceptionally well received by the bioscience community. We look forward to continuing these innovative programs and help make Maryland one of the premiere bioscience communities in the world."

As part of the project, the state Department of Business and Economic Development will offer Emergent a $50,000 grant through the Brownfields Revitalization Incentive Program to assist with the costs of assessment studies for the East Baltimore site. In addition, the company is eligible for Job Creation Tax Credits, the One Maryland Tax Credit and benefits from locating in an Enterprise Zone.

"Emergent's decision to expand in Maryland underscores not only our rich research and development environment, but also our mission to support the complete product development life cycle that includes bio manufacturing," said DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson.

Baltimore City, which owns the land on which the BioProcessing Center sits, offered a $250,000 credit on the purchase price of the land as an incentive for job creation.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said, "The City of Baltimore is excited about welcoming Emergent BioSolutions to the Baltimore biotech community. With great research institutions such as Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland as potential partners in the area, we know that Emergent will be a wonderful contributor in the future."

Emergent BioSolutions employs more than 600 employees worldwide, with more than 150 employees at its corporate headquarters in Rockville and one of its product development sites in Gaithersburg.