Morning Read: Lay-offs, uncertainty at drug plant in Rouses Point

The effort to find a permanent owner and operator of the drug manufacturing plant in Rouses Point suffered a setback this week.  A company called Akrimax that bought the facility from Pfizer/Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is now departing.

According to the Plattsburgh Press-Republican, Pfizer will continue to operate the plant at least through 2013, but roughly 60 job lay-offs are looming.

North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said the region had high hopes for Akrimax.

“However, they have not been able to develop sufficient business to support a 1-million-square-foot complex, due in part to the economy and to accelerating changes in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector since they began,” Douglas said.

The question now is whether a long-term operator of the plant can be found for 2013 and beyond.  Read the full article here.