Three life sciences companies
are expanding their operations
in Massachusetts

Three Life Sciences Companies Expanding Operations in Massachusetts

September 02, 2008
by Joan Trombetti, Writer
Three life sciences companies will expand operations in Massachusetts.

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics will disclose its $109 million expansion in Walpole next week, and Advance Medical Inc. said it has established a new US headquarters in Boston. Covidien Ltd. hopes to add a building near its corporate headquarters in Mansfield.

Siemens Healthcare said it has added 115,000 square feet to its manufacturing plant and plans to add 70 jobs over the next decade. Business executives and elected officials, including US Senator John F. Kerry, are slated to appear at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Siemens Healthcare currently has about 525 employees in Walpole.

Advance Medical, a unit of Advance Medical Health Care Management Services SA of Barcelona, has opened its US headquarters in Boston's Fenway neighborhood with a dozen full-time administrative staffers and another dozen part-time doctors, in addition to contractors. Michael Hough, an executive vice president, said the firm was drawn to Boston because of its world-renowned hospitals and medical research facilities. Advance Medical plans to double its local employment by year-end.

Advance Medical offers a service for people diagnosed with serious or complex medical conditions who want a second medical opinion on care.

Covidien is considering buying a 115,000-square-foot building in Mansfield for research and development as well as administrative space. Covidien spokesman Bruce Farmer said the building could provide room for an additional 50 employees. But Farmer said the company does not yet have a firm option or agreement to buy.

Covidien is also seeking state and local tax incentives that could potentially be worth more than $1 million to help recoup some of its planned investment. Farmer said he couldn't comment on where the company would expand if the tax incentives are rejected or if it cannot strike a deal with the building's owner. Since 2003, Mansfield has approved tax incentives for at least six companies that have promised to expand there.

Just months ago, Governor Deval Patrick signed a $1 billion life sciences initiative, designed to pump money into firms and research institutions focused on medical devices, biotechnology and other life sciences industries.