From left, one of DPT Laboratories' founders, John Feik, accepts theTexas Treasure award from State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte asPaul Johnson, DPTpresident, looks on. Courtesy photo

Special to the Medical Patriot

DPT Laboratories Ltd. has been presented the “Texas Treasure Business Award,” created in 2005 to honor businesses that have been in existence in Texas for more than 50 years and that have remained committed to Texas, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.

“We are honored to receive this award and to live, work and grow our business in Texas,” said John Feik, one of DPT’s founders. “We are celebrating 70 years in San Antonio this year, and we are proud of our rich history and bright future.”

DPT, a contract development and manufacturing organization based in San Antonio, is recognized by pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare companies as the industry source for contract semi-solid and liquid development, and manufacturing services. The company was founded in 1938 as Texas Pharmacal Co., specializing in products for diseases of the skin.

Between 1938 and 1990, the company name changed several times. In 1990, DPT’s current owner, DFB Pharmaceuticals acquired Dermatological Products of Texas from Alcon and changed the name to DPT Laboratories Ltd.

Since the early 1990s, DPT’s development expertise has supported its customers with more than 90 FDA approvals including new drug applications, abbreviated new drug applications, biologic license applications, new animal drug applications, abbreviated new animal drug applications, and 510 (k) premarket notification registrations.

“DPT has been a strong corporate citizen in San Antonio,” said State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, whose district includes portions of San Antonio. “The company is part of this community’s growing $15 billion healthcare and biomedical industry and its $14 billion manufacturing industry. Their commitment to San Antonio is commendable, and we are excited to see the growth of DPT continue for many years.”

DPT has more than 1,200 employees in both San Antonio and Lakewood, N.J. Today, DPT is supporting more than 50 customer new drug applications and is commercially producing more than 600 unique formulas in over 800 different categories including individual products, packages and sizes.

In late 2006, the company added its new 258,000-square-foot research and development, manufacturing and distribution facilities at Brooks City-Base on the city’s South Side. Completion of the $24 million, two-building campus at Brooks City-Base will allow the firm to retain 136 pharmaceutical and biotechnology jobs in San Antonio, with a plan to expand to 250 by 2010.

“Our latest investment at Brooks City-Base demonstrates our strong commitment to innovation, technology, and service. Equally important, our success in attracting top talent has fueled our growth and allowed us to add new jobs in Texas and our other locations,” said Paul Johnson, DPT president and chief operating officer,.

The “Texas Treasure Business Award” was created in 2005 as Senate Bill 920 and was passed as authored by Van de Putte, who is a pharmacist, in the 79th Texas legislative session. It was then signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry. The Texas Historical Commission was selected to administer the award.