March 26, 2026 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) – Governor Jenniffer González-Colón, alongside Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC, for its Spanish acronym) Sebastián Negrón-Reichard and Invest Puerto Rico (InvestPR), today formalized an agreement with biopharmaceutical company PharmaEssentia for a $46 million investment to develop its manufacturing operations in Puerto Rico.

The ceremony took place at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and brought together PharmaEssentia’s executive team, including its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ko-Chung Lin, as well as leaders from Puerto Rico’s private and public sectors. PharmaEssentia is the first Taiwanese company to establish operations on the island, and the formalization of this project is the result of a collaborative effort between DDEC and InvestPR.

The investment includes the development of a biologics manufacturing facility that will serve as a strategic hub to support the U.S. market and strengthen the global supply chain for BESREMi® (ropeginterferon alfa-2b), a treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for hematologic conditions.

The company will be located in Toa Baja and is expected to create more than 90 specialized direct jobs in its initial phase, with potential for growth as operations expand on the island. The facility will include active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, biomanufacturing processes, as well as quality control and assurance functions, further strengthening the supply chain.

“This investment reaffirms Puerto Rico’s position as a reliable and competitive U.S. jurisdiction for advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing. We continue to attract projects that strengthen our economy, create specialized jobs, and contribute to the resilience of America’s supply chain for critical medicines,” said Governor Jenniffer González-Colón.

For his part, DDEC Secretary Sebastián Negrón-Reichard highlighted that PharmaEssentia’s investment demonstrates Puerto Rico’s continued positioning as a key destination within the United States for reshoring advanced manufacturing and strengthening supply chains, particularly in highly regulated industries such as life sciences.

“The island offers the talent, infrastructure, and regulatory expertise that global companies seek. Businesses that establish operations here do not start from scratch, they integrate into a proven, highly specialized ecosystem that enables execution with speed and certainty. This further reinforces our position as a strategic destination for reshoring,” the Secretary added.

Founded in Taiwan in 2003, PharmaEssentia is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for complex diseases in areas such as hematology, oncology, and immunology. The company will establish its Puerto Rico operations as part of its expansion into the U.S. market, positioning the island as a key node within its global manufacturing network.

“Expanding our manufacturing capacity beyond Taiwan is a strategic priority for PharmaEssentia as we continue to strengthen the resilience, scalability, and geographic diversification of our supply chain,” said Dr. Ko-Chung Lin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PharmaEssentia.

“We are proud to take this important step in establishing manufacturing capabilities in U.S. territory, with Puerto Rico serving as a key hub. This investment reflects our long-term commitment to addressing the growing need for innovative treatments for patients worldwide, including BESREMi®, which will be supported from the island,” he added.

InvestPR Chief Executive Officer Ella Woger-Nieves emphasized that this project reinforces Puerto Rico’s position as a strategic destination for international investment in highly specialized industries.

“Since the beginning of discussions in 2023, we have worked closely in a coordinated and collaborative manner to support PharmaEssentia at every stage of its evaluation. This type of effort is what enables us to attract high-impact investments and continue strengthening our life sciences ecosystem,” said Woger-Nieves.

The company expects to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to begin operations on the island in 2027.

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