Horizon Pharma moves into expanded U.S. headquarters in Lake Forest
Specialty drug manufacturer Horizon Pharma moved into its expanded U.S. headquarters in Lake Forest, nearly tripling the size of its previous offices.
The Dublin-based company held an opening ceremony earlier this week at its new offices at 150 S. Saunders Road, about seven miles north of its former headquarters location in Deerfield. The new space, now home to about 300 employees, can accommodate about 530 workers. Horizon Pharma is occupying the first through fourth floors of the building, which once housed the Solo Cup Co.
Tim Walbert, Horizon Pharma chairman, president and CEO, has said the company has added about 100 employees at its U.S. headquarters during the past year as the company has "experienced tremendous growth in the business overall."
The company made headlines about two years ago when it acquired Dublin-based Vidara Therapeutics for about $660 million. Horizon used the acquisition to move its corporate headquarters out of the United States in a process known as a tax inversion, which exempts the company from paying U.S. corporate taxes.
Horizon Pharma markets nine medicines through its orphan, primary care and rheumatology business units.
The company, growing mainly through acquisitions, completed its plan in January to spend $510 million in cash to buy Crealta Holdings, of Lake Forest, which makes the only approved medicine for chronic refractory gout, a disorder that affects about 50,000 Americans.
Horizon Pharma said late last year that its sales will double in the next four years, led by its orphan drug business. Orphan drugs, which treat rare diseases, often command high prices and profits.