Biotech plant planned in S.E. Idaho

REXBURG, Idaho _ Another California biotechnical
company has set its sites on this town for a future
research and manufacturing plant.

Once set up in Rexburg, Collaborative Genetics Inc.
plans to develop a diagnostic test strip to detect
anthrax and botulinum toxin in body fluids.

Associated Press Spokesman Review

President Bruce Tedeschi said the plant will be built
in the Rexburg Business Park and be ready to move
in this summer. It could create 18 jobs in the first
year.

Besides the product’s anti-terror and military
applications, Tedeschi said the tests also would have
applications in the livestock industry, food
production, hospitals and clinical labs.

Tedeschi said the tests would detect anthrax or
botulinum in as little as three to four minutes,
compared with several days under existing methods.
Another product under development could screen
patients at risk for future cardiovascular trouble.

Collaborative Genetics plans to team up with the
Idaho State University College of Pharmacy and
Department of Biological Sciences to develop the
tests.

Various research organizations in Idaho, including
the university, are expected to receive up to $8.5
million from the federal government for research from
the Bush administration’s homeland security
program.

Last April, Ttest Inc., announced plans for its own
Rexburg plant to make a test strip capable of
checking saliva for the presence of alcohol.

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=031602&ID=s1117117&cat=section.business