Rocky Mountain Biologicals Expands

Four years ago, Rocky Mountain Bio stepped onto a global stage. Company founders had a dream of making it in the emerging world of biotechnology.

Today, the Missoula based company is one of only two companies in the world making bovine serum products essential to biopharmaceutical and clinical diagnostics industries.

Four years into their business plan, RMBio is still considered a startup business but the hard work is beginning to pay off. Several months ago, the company launched an expansion project to facilitate increased production. The 20-thousand square foot manufacturing facility is nearing completion and customers are beginning to line up. According to the Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation, Rocky Mountain Bio is poised to benefit from new stem cell research stimulated by the Obama administration’s recent lifting of regulations that limited research in the United States.

Company President and CEO, Suresh Daniel, says Missoula was a natural fit for his company.

"There is a lifestyle component to living in Missoula," says Daniel. "I did meet my wife here and this is a wonderful place to start a family. I think there's a tremendous amount of benefit to being in Missoula. You have a talent pool that comes out of the University of Montana and as the company expands, that was one of our positions, to employ Montanans and help build a viable biotechnology company here."

Dick King, President of Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation says RMBio’s success is a big win for the area. "The bio-tech industry is very difficult for start-up companies to get a foothold and create market share," says King, "But RMBio has worked very hard and is now being recognized as a leading supplier of high quality products that are in high demand."

The Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation has assisted RMBio since it was founded in 2004.