Published December 2000

County’s biotech sector welcomes two additions

The strength and influence of the biotechnology sector on the health of Snohomish County’s economy have been formidable for many years. The good news is the biotech and biomedical industries are becoming even more of an important part of our business and community fabric.

The Puget Sound metropolitan area is recognized as among the premier biotechnology and medical technology centers of the world. Companies here are developing revolutionary methods for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and many other serious illnesses.

This area also is home to several medical-device firms that are world leaders in the research and development of ultrasound imaging and heart defibrillation products. Regionally, real estate transactions for biotech and biomedical companies have accounted for more than 2.41 million square feet.

But did you know that Snohomish County has the distinction of being home to 22 percent of the biotech and biomedical companies within Washington state? More importantly, growth projections indicate the county’s biotech and biomedical real estate market will increase by 72 percent by 2005. Snohomish County biotech and biomedical companies provide clinical testing for FDA drug approval processes, research and development for juvenile diabetes, cancer, drug manufacturing and ultrasound.

Among the 30 such companies within our county are some highly recognizable companies with worldwide reputations for excellence, such as ATL Ultrasound, ICOS Corp., Immunex, Prolinx Inc., Quinton Instrument Co. and SONUS Pharmaceuticals, to name just a few.

We are pleased to announce the arrival of two of the newest biotech companies to Snohomish County — Northwest Biotherapeutics and CombiMatrix.

Located in 35,000 square feet of laboratory space in Canyon Park, NW Biotherapeutics relocated from Seattle’s Northgate area. The company currently is working on developing both products and services for the treatment of prostate and other cancers. Just this year, the company’s investment in Snohomish County has reached about $5.7 million — with another $500,000 additional improvements for 2001 planned. The company has a total work force of 42 that averages wages of about $45,000 annually.

CombiMatrix is a new biotech company that’s moving to the Harbour Point Technology Center (formally the Raytheon Building) in Mukilteo, relocating from Snoqualmie Ridge in King County. The company recently received a patent for technology that replicates human DNA for use in drug discovery and development. Their principal product is their “biochip,” a semiconductor that uses electrodes to capture and layer the four “letters” of the genetic code from fluids applied to its surface. These chips can carry a large number of test ports to speed the identifying and testing of potential drugs. CombiMatrix is a $50 million company with 50 employees.

As the county’s Economic Development Council focuses its attention on recruiting all forms of high-tech businesses to relocate here, special emphasis is being placed on attracting the growing number of emerging biotech and biomedical companies.

We find the potential “fit” to be appealing to these kinds of companies, primarily because they like to relocate near companies doing similar work. This allows for greater interaction between the highly skilled professionals that these companies employ.

We will be happy to keep you posted on how the biotech industry grows in Snohomish County, as it is bound to do.

Deborah Knutson is President of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council. She can be reached at 425-743-4567 or by e-mail to dknutson@snoedc.org.

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