Watson Pharmaceuticals is planning a global R&D technology center in North Brunswick, N.J. The company has signed a lease for a 32,000-square-foot facility at the Economic Development Authority's Technology Center of New Jersey, a 50-acre complex consisting of lab, production and office space. Watson intends to initially invest approximately $4.5 million in outfitting the new facility.

Watson will immediately retrofit approximately 19,000 square feet of space for product development and analytical laboratories.  The remaining 13,000 square feet will accommodate future expansion.  The facility, which is expected to be completed this spring, will employ approximately 50 scientists, chemists, engineers and support staff. 

"The location of the new Global R&D Technology Center will enable Watson to leverage our proximity to such educational centers of excellence as Rutgers University,” said Paul Bisaro, president and CEO of Watson. “This will enable Watson to establish collaborations with university departments including pharmaceutics, chemistry and engineering and permit us to benefit from the talent pool in the heart of the pharmaceutical industry of New Jersey.” 

The new center will become Watson's state-of-the-art facility for developing generic pharmaceutical products, in particular for inhalation technology and respiratory products, with the ability to conduct formulation development and analytical testing, Bisaro said.

In early 2010, Watson relocated its global corporate headquarters to Parsippany, N.J., in a facility designed to support its global expansion and ultimately employ as many as 500 people.

With its new location, Watson joins companies including Merial, Chromocell and Rutgers Technology Center.