Spanish vaccine maker plans to build its North American headquarters in Ames

AMES, IOWA — Laboratorias Hipra, a Spanish animal-health company focused primarily on research and marketing of food-animal vaccines, plans to build its North American headquarters here.

Local and state authorities still need to approve the plan, but if the project moves forward it would result in the multi-national company's first North American branch.

Hipra's plans include construction of a manufacturing facility at Iowa State University's (ISU) Research Park in Ames. The facility initially would employ about 60 people dedicated to vaccine production. Work on the facility could begin by fall 2011, with vaccine production slated to begin by 2014. The company also plans to launch a research and development unit, employing about 20 people, in the ISU Research Park by the end of 2011.