Lonza Houston, Inc., an international viral and cell therapy manufacturer, will construct a new biotech facility on an 11-acre site in a growing area of Pearland, according to officials. Lonza will join a number of medical field companies—such as Merit Medical Systems and Pearland Surgery Center— to locate to the city’s Lower Kirby Urban District near the intersection of Beltway 8 and Hwy. 288. “It has been a long-standing goal of the city to cultivate a broad spectrum of medical- and life science-related organizations in our community,” Mayor Tom Reid said. “Lonza’s interest in Pearland is a testament to our efforts and willingness to work with businesses interested in investing in our city.” The new center will house viral and immunotherapy development and manufacturing for products that range from active pharmaceutical ingredients to drinking water sanitizers. The state-of-the-art facility will allow Lonza to more than double its viral gene and virally-modified therapeutics production capacity, officials said. Lonza expects to complete construction of the facility by the third quarter of 2017, according to officials. About 50 employees will work at the new center at its launch, and Lonza plans to include additional personnel in the future, officials said. “Lonza Houston is thrilled to have received Pearland’s approval to relocate and expand our manufacturing capabilities to the city of Pearland,” Lonza Houston site director Ricardo Jimenez said. “The expansion will allow us to address the growing need for cell and gene therapy manufacturing capacity to help find treatments and potential cures for different disease indications.  Pearland’s proximity to the Texas Medical Center and the continued growth of Pearland is appealing to Lonza.”