Duke biotech spin-out Argos wants to treble workforce and build a new facility.

Argos Therapeutics, a biotech spin-out of Duke University, is planning to build a new biomanufacturing facility in the Research Triangle Park. At the same time, the company has announced it will grow its staff by 230, trebling its current workforce.

The facility will be 100,000 square foot and be supported with $9.5m in incentives by the North Carolina’s Department of Commerce ($7.1m) and the North Carolina Biotechnology Centre ($200,000, via the Department of Commerce’s investment). Durham County and the city of Durham are investing $2.35m. The investors will also provide logistical and planning support.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Centre is an early investor in Argos, having awarded the biotech a $10,000 Business Development Loan in 1998 to help it spin out. Argos has grown significantly since then, and celebrated a $45m initial public offering in February 2014.

Argos is working on personalised immunotherapies. Its technology, Arcelis, is based on the biology of dendritic cells, which turn the immune system on and off, and targets HIV, autoimmune disorders and cancer. Its oncology drug candidate AGS-003 is currently in a phase 3 clinical trial to treat metastatic renal cell carinoma. AGS-002 is in a phase 2 clinical trial to treat HIV.

Jeff Abbey, president and chief executive, said: “Argos was initially formed based on ground-breaking research conducted at Duke University and has experienced significant growth in Durham over the past decade. We are pleased to be expanding our operations here with the construction of our new automated manufacturing facility which we believe is critical to the successful commercialisation of personalised immunotherapies such as AGS-003. Support for this project is a great example showing how our leaders in state, city and county government are committed to job growth and to enhancing North Carolina’s position as a leader in biotechnology.”