Purdue Drug Maker Closing Doors After 5 Years

The Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy and Contract Manufacturing, North America's sole manufacturer of a multidrug-resistant tuberculosis drug, is closing its doors after five years.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- An Indiana drug maker that's North America's sole manufacturer of a multidrug-resistant tuberculosis drug is closing its doors after five years.

The Purdue Research Foundation says the Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy and Contract Manufacturing was unable to become self-sustaining in part because of the recession.

The center opened in 2005 at the Purdue Research Park. It reached an agreement with Eli Lilly and Co. in 2007 to become North America's sole maker of the tuberculosis drug Seromycin. Now, it will cease operations in the coming months.

As part of a humanitarian effort, the center will continue making that drug and other lifesaving "legacy" drugs until new manufacturers can be found.

The center began with a $5 million gift from two Purdue graduates.

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