Guest feature: Kristin O'Keefe is the VP of communications and marketing at the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

Recognizing the benefits of proximity to leading U.S. researchers, regulators and advocacy groups, Nobelpharma America has chosen Montgomery County, Maryland as the location for its first overseas subsidiary of Nobelpharma Co. Ltd., a company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Nobelpharma’s company mission is to contribute to society by providing critical but neglected pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Nobelpharma meets an essential patient need: it develops curative drugs and medical devices for diseases that often go overlooked because of the small number of patients. Examples include patients suffering from tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and adductor spasmodic dysphonia.

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), together with the Maryland Department of Commerce, assisted Nobelpharma with site selection, strategic introductions and county resources to assist them in their first commercial lease in Bethesda. Nobelpharma has signed its three-year lease absorbing 5,350 square feet at Bethesda Office Center located at 4520 East West Highway in Bethesda, Maryland. The Nobelpharma office in Bethesda currently employs 11 people, with plans to expand to 20 by year end.

"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."

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