Zoetis recently marked the official opening of its new building dedicated to diagnostics and biodevices research and development with a ribbon cutting ceremony at its site in Durham, N.C.

The ceremony was attended by local officials, including North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders, North Carolina Representative Zack Hawkins and key company leaders including Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck, and President of Research and Development Rob Polzer.

The expanded site serves as the hub for Zoetis’ engineering and diagnostics work including device reliability testing. The new building features more than 78,000 square feet including 23,000 square feet of total lab space allotted for a biodevice engineering lab, biodevice science lab, diagnostics engineering lab and diagnostics engineering lab space.

Zoetis has added 54 jobs to its diagnostics and biodevices research and development team in Durham in the last three years.

Zoetis said the Durham site is a crucial part of the company’s global research and development locations around the world. It serves as the company’s R&D hub for diagnostics and engineering capabilities.

Zoetis employs approximately 200 people at the site, more than half of whom are dedicated to the company’s R&D work. Other colleagues on site are dedicated to U.S. Poultry, Global BioDevices commercial operations, as well as related manufacturing and enabling functions.

Zoetis, and before that Embrex, has had a presence in Durham, N.C., for more than 30 years.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our new building in Durham, where our research and development team dedicated to diagnostics and engineering is based. As the innovation leader in animal health, it’s important to us to be part of the dynamic technology community here in Durham,” said Rob Polzer, executive vice president and president of research and development at Zoetis. “I am optimistic about our ability to continue to innovate in diagnostics and biodevices to meet the needs of our customers and the pets and livestock they care for.”

Kristin Peck, CEO of Zoetis, commented: “Our colleagues in Durham have a long history of purpose-driven innovation that transforms animals’ lives – from our Embrex biodevice that’s helped automate and revolutionize poultry hatcheries in the U.S. and markets around the world to our growing focus on diagnostics to help veterinarians deliver accurate results more quickly to pet owners. Our continued investment in innovation, research and development, and manufacturing helps distinguish us as the global leader in animal health.”