RALEIGH – Biotech firm Abzena is bringing more than 300 jobs to Sanford for a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant in an economic expansion announced Tuesday.

Average pay will be $63,000, according to figures disclosed by the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Abzena is a Global Partner Research Organization for “integrated bench to market solutions for biologics and bioconjugates,” according to its website.

“We are very appreciative for the entire team representing North Carolina for their partnership and the office of U.S. Senator Thom Tillis during the decision process” said Jonathan Goldman, CEO of Abzena, in the announcement. “We are delighted to support our customers and the patients they serve with this investment in North Carolina. This builds on the successful launch of our second cGMP biologics facility in San Diego in 2020. We are pleased to provide high quality integrated drug development services covering research as well as the clinical and commercial phases without the need for technology transfer.”

The firm, which is based in San Diego, will invest some $213 million in the new facility.

It is receiving some $7 million in state incentives.

The deal was agreed to by the North Carolina Economic Investment Committee.

“Innovative companies set a high bar for excellence, and with today’s decision, North Carolina once again meets and exceeds those standards,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “We welcome Abzena to the state’s growing life science industry cluster. As a former executive in this industry myself, it’s great to see how North Carolina is leading the way in the product lifecycle for new medicines that will improve and save lives.”

Sanford is also the site of two other pharmaceutical companies announcing major projects recently: Pfizer and Audentes.

North Carolina was selected for the Abzena plant over  Philadelphia, Trenton, NJ, Tulsa, OK, Greenville SC, and San Diego.