Tampa Bay receives federal grant for cancer drug manufacturing

Tampa Bay will receive $47.3 million in federal funding to increase domestic production of radiopharmaceuticals. The U.S. Economic Development Administration announced the grant on Oct. 29. The funds are allocated to the Florida Oncology and Radiopharmaceutical Growth Engine, or FORGE.

FORGE is a coalition led by Moffitt Cancer Center and its 775-acre life sciences campus, Speros, in Pasco County. Partner contributions bring the total value of the five-project package to approximately $88.2 million. The initiative addresses a reliance on foreign sources for the isotopes required in these cancer treatments.

Josh Carpenter, president of Speros and chief integration officer at Moffitt, stated that the supply chain for these therapies remains dependent on outside U.S. sources. He noted that the coalition is constructing facilities and training staff to produce, test, and deliver the drugs within the Tampa Bay area.

The grant finances several infrastructure and educational components. A $16.9 million portion funds a 130,000-square-foot manufacturing plant at Speros. This facility will house cyclotrons that generate isotopes for research, clinical trials, and industry partners. A separate $15 million project covers a four-story office and lab building intended as a permanent home for biotech startups.

Additional funds support workforce development. Embarc Collective, a Tampa-based incubator, will receive $4.3 million to support up to 20 early-stage companies. The University of South Florida will use $6 million to train nuclear pharmacists who prepare and dose patient medications. Pasco-Hernando State College will receive $5 million to expand radiography and imaging programs for technologists.

Eric Hall, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, said the investment will help local professionals advance their careers. Charles Lockwood, dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, added that the pharmacy college will train pharmacists to help transform cancer treatment. Tim Holcomb, CEO of Embarc Collective, projected that the effort could create thousands of jobs over the next decade.

The coalition secured the grant through an EDA program designed to help disaster-hit areas build economic resilience. These projects build on Moffitt's prior $600 million investment at Speros. Projections indicate that FORGE-driven growth will support about 4,000 regional jobs, including 1,100 at Speros. The initiative is expected to generate $2.6 billion in regional earnings through 2037 and attract $174 million in venture capital for incubator startups.