CSUN Officials Greet New Biotech Complex

A new $70-million biotech complex on the campus of Cal State Northridge will allow insulin pump maker MiniMed Inc. to nearly triple production capacity, the company’s president said Thursday.

Following grand opening ceremonies for MiniMed’s new world headquarters, Terry Gregg, president and chief operating officer of the company, said that the former headquarters in Sylmar could produce, at most, 70 insulin pumps a day. That’s about a third of the 200 pumps the new facility can produce at capacity, he said.

In addition, he said the Sylmar plant had “maxed out” at 600 workers, about half the number anticipated to work this year at the new facility. And employment is expected to grow when the company adds a fourth wing within the next few years.

Speakers during the hourlong ceremony commented on the widespread occurrence of diabetes, a disease that affects more than 16 million Americans. That point was brought home by Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s disclosure that he was diagnosed with the disease last week, following a routine blood test.

In one of the more emotional moments, 8-year-old Tyler Roy of Marksville, La., told how his insulin pump allowed him to enjoy one of life’s luxuries: sleeping in.

“It’s the difference between night and day,” said his mother, Rose Roy. “Before the pump, meals and snacks were always at the same time. Now we’re now able to have a flexible schedule.”

MiniMed founder Alfred Mann praised the efforts of the CSUN staff and also the mayor’s business team, which helped the company get a $1.5-million grant to partially fund the project.