Biotech company will invest $550 million in Indianapolis facility over the next five years

The Swiss biotech company Roche announced on Monday plans for a $550 million expansion of its Indianapolis diagnostics and manufacturing hub over the next five years. 

The global biotech company said the investment will go towards making Indianapolis a hub for manufacturing Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems used by diabetes patients. 

CGMs are devices attached to the body and partially inserted under the skin to monitor blood sugar. The method gives real-time updates of whether a patients’ blood sugar levels are trending high or low, allowing them to take preventative action. 

Several studies found there are racial disparities in the use of CGMs, and a study by the American Diabetes Association found that people of color covered by Medicaid were the least likely to get a CGM. 

There are roughly 38 million Americans living with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and those numbers are projected to increase. 

“The challenges of diabetes are pervasive, with millions of Americans living with the constant vigilance and countless daily decisions the disease requires,” Brad Moore, CEO of Roche Diagnostics North America, said in a statement. “By expanding our manufacturing capabilities in Indianapolis, we ensure reliable access to innovative monitoring solutions for individuals living with diabetes in the U.S. and worldwide.”

The company said the investment will create hundreds of manufacturing and construction jobs while also increasing access to diabetes management tools in the U.S.

The Indianapolis location currently produces about 5 billion diabetes test strips every year. 

The company announced earlier this year that it would invest $50 billion into the United States over the next five years. The Indianapolis announcement is part of the company’s larger U.S. commitment. 

Contact Health Reporter Benjamin Thorp at bthorp@wfyi.org.