Coriolis Pharma launches at Spark Life Sciences in Morrisville
Coriolis Pharma, a German contract research, development and manufacturing organization, announced plans to invest $10.8 million and add 50 new jobs over the next five years in Morrisville.
The company will lease approximately 10,000 square feet of laboratory space at Spark Life Sciences to provide a breadth of services to its clients, including drug product development, analytical methods, and manufacturing of biologics. Coriolis will be the first tenant at Spark.
Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for the new Coriolis Pharma positions will be $150,000, compared with an average wage in Wake County of $76,643, according to the NC Department of Commerce.
Coriolis Pharma, headquartered in Martinsried, near Munich, Germany, has about 200 employees worldwide, according to reports. The private company, founded in 2008, has served more than 800 clients worldwide, including formulation research and development of biopharmaceutical drugs, including cell and gene therapy products and vaccines.
“The investment in a new lab in Morrisville is a significant milestone for Coriolis. With our future presence in North Carolina, we will be able to serve our North American clients even better, offering our core services quickly and efficiently on site,” said Silvia Steyrer-Gruber, Chief Executive Officer of Coriolis Pharma. “The decisive factor in our choice of location was the strong scientific fit with the North Carolina ecosystem, a global biotechnology center of excellence. The innovative environment, proximity to numerous life science companies and excellent infrastructure around Morrisville reinforced our decision.”
The new laboratory is scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of 2026. As a strategic anchor for Coriolis Pharma’s North American expansion, the facility will initially deliver core services, such as particle identification, followed by formulation development and lyophilization. These offerings will be seamlessly integrated with the company’s global scientific and operational network, ensuring continuity and excellence through close collaboration with its headquarters in Germany.
The company said the site is designed to support future innovation, including the adoption of advanced digital and in-silico technologies, reinforcing Coriolis Pharma’s vision to accelerate and de-risk biopharmaceutical development.
"Given the strong growth in North Carolina life sciences over the past 18 months, Coriolis Pharma feels like a perfect fit for Spark and our state,” said Christian Brown, director of life sciences economic development for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. “With the company’s focus on biologics and ability to serve varying sizes of companies, ranging from small research and development companies through large pharma companies, their expertise will be a welcome addition to our strong life sciences ecosystem.”
The North Carolina Community College System offered an incentive of $1,600 - $1,800 per eligible trainee for customized training for this announcement
Located at the corner of McCrimmon Parkway and Airport Boulevard, Spark Life Science is a 109-acre, mixed-use life sciences campus resulting from a $1 billion investment spearheaded by North Carolina developer Trinity Capital and Starwood Capital. The campus, when finished, will include 1.5 million square feet of lab and biomanufacturing space, as well as a STEM Education and Amenity Center, restaurants, retail, and recreational areas.
“We are delighted to welcome Coriolis as the first tenants at Spark Life Science,” said Tyson Strutzenberg, director of asset management at Trinity Capital Advisors. “Both Spark and Coriolis are all about enabling clients to commercialize pharmaceutical products faster. We believe that having a company of Coriolis’ caliber will spark additional interest for our campus.”
Coriolis Pharma said that it brings a unique combination of cross-modality formulation expertise, scientific depth, and advanced analytical capabilities to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry in North Carolina. The investment in the new laboratory underscores the company’s strategic commitment to expanding its global innovation footprint and accelerating digital transformation in drug development. Guided by a clear mission to convert cutting-edge biomolecules into life-saving therapies, Coriolis Pharma continues to set new standards in formulation science and biopharmaceutical advancement.
Morrisville in spotlight
In the coming months, Coriolis Pharma will advance the build-out of the North Carolina laboratory and begin hiring its first new employees.
“We warmly welcome Coriolis to Wake County – the premiere destination for life sciences companies from across the country and around the world,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Susan Evans. “We’re like a magnet that attracts the most innovative biotech businesses, because we have the talent and the resources they need to succeed.”
Morrisville’s strategic location, talented workforce, high quality of life and business-friendly environment make it an optimal location for investment.
“We are proud to welcome Coriolis Pharma and their new U.S. headquarters to Morrisville’s Spark Campus,” said T.J. Cawley, Mayor of the Town of Morrisville. “This milestone reflects years of strategic work to attract life sciences investment to our town, including opening hundreds of acres to innovation and updating our regulations to support companies developing life-changing and life-saving treatments. Coriolis joins a thriving ecosystem of global biotech leaders here in Morrisville, the emerging nexus of life sciences in North Carolina—the best state for business and a community committed to building a healthier, happier world. We look forward to being a strong partner in their continued success.”
Numerous partners, including NCBiotech, collaborated on this project:
- The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
- North Carolina Community College System
- NC Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions
- Wake Technical Community College
- Capital Area Workforce Development Board
- The Town of Morrisville
- Wake County Government
- Wake County Economic Development, a program of the Greater Raleigh Chamber