Japanese Pharmaceutical Company Chooses Bethesda For U.S. HQ

BETHESDA, MD — A Tokyo-based pharmaceutical company has chosen Bethesda for its U.S. headquarters.

Nobelpharma — which develops drugs and medical devices for rare diseases — has signed a three-year lease in the Bethesda Office Center on East West Highway, according to a press release from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC).

Nobelpharma's president and CEO, Yoshiki Kida, said he chose Bethesda because of its proximity to the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and other leading U.S. regulators and researchers.

"Access to the country's leading researchers, regulators and advocates is a key element of our success strategy, and we are glad to make Montgomery County, Maryland, our new U.S. home," Kida said.

There are 11 employees in the Bethesda office, according to MCEDC. The company plans to expand its workforce to 20 by the end of the year.

"The state of Maryland is proud to serve as the gateway for Nobelpharma's entry into the United States," said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. "We look forward to watching the company expand its talented workforce and presence in Montgomery County in the years to come."