In a move that will save hundreds of jobs, Exton based Frontida BioPharm has bought former Mutual Pharmaceuticals’ drug production plants in Northeast Philadelphia’s Juniata and Burholm neighborhoods for an undisclosed amount, writes Joseph N. DiStefano for philly.com.

Frontida, which is an affiliate of China based Tigermed’s Frontage Laboratories purchased the plants from India based owner Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 

According to Frontida’s Chief Operations Officer and co-owner Ron Connolly, the company plans to add more jobs to the current Sun workforce of 255, which make 40 products at its Philadelphia locations. The acquisition also includes a plant in Aurora in Illinois and 15 proprietary medicines.

Prior to the acquisition by Frontida, the plants in Northeast Philadelphia had been threatened with closure. Connolly credited the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Works job training fund, as well as the financing currently being negotiated with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp, for helping make the sale attractive.

John Grady, President of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., said that Ron Connolly showed true interest in developing the industry. According to him, the PIDC usually lends up to $40,000 per job that is created and retained. With Frontida’s expansion plans, backing this would represent a very typical investment for the PIDC.

Frontage, which currently employs 450 workers, 250 at its labs in Exton, with the rest in Suzhou and Shanghai in China, sees ample opportunity to increase both products and staff in the future.

“I went to Drexel, I lived my whole life in Philadelphia, and I really want to see this company succeed,” said Connolly.

Read more about the acquisitions at Philly.com here.