Construction of a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in northeast Bend has reached a major milestone, signaling steady progress on a project expected to bring significant employment growth to Central Oregon.
On Thursday, Serán Bioscience announced the completion of the plant’s structural framework, marking the end of one of the most critical phases of construction. Once operational, the facility will manufacture prescription medications on site and distribute them directly to pharmacies and patients.
Company leaders say the project could employ approximately 200 people within the next few years, adding to Bend’s growing life sciences and advanced manufacturing presence.
“There is a really excellent pharmaceutical environment here. There are at least five companies that I’m aware of that do similar types of things. Over the last 10 to 20 years, it’s become possible to do these bigger projects because we have a workforce now,” Serán President and CEO Dan Smithey said.
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With the building’s exterior structure now complete, construction crews will move into the next phase of development, which includes interior build-out, specialized manufacturing spaces, and technical infrastructure required for pharmaceutical production. The company expects the facility to be fully operational in 2027.
The new plant is located near the Cooley Road–NE 18th Street roundabout, across from Les Schwab headquarters and Sky View Middle School, placing it within a growing commercial and employment corridor in northeast Bend.
Local economic development officials have pointed to projects like Serán’s as evidence of Bend’s evolving economy, which has increasingly attracted biotech, pharmaceutical, and research-driven companies alongside its traditional outdoor recreation and tourism sectors. Access to a skilled workforce, regional infrastructure investments, and quality-of-life factors have helped make larger-scale industrial projects more feasible in recent years.
Once completed, the facility is expected to support a range of roles, including manufacturing, quality assurance, engineering, and administrative positions, further diversifying Central Oregon’s job market.
As interior construction advances, Serán Bioscience says it will continue coordinating with local partners and contractors to keep the project on track for its planned opening, positioning Bend as a growing hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest.
Originally reported by Central Oregon Daily News Staff in Central Oregon Daily.
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