The state, through MassDevelopment, its economic development entity, worked closely with AVANT to develop a financing framework that enabled the Needham, MA-based company to build the facility. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"With the assistance of MassDevelopment, we can now complement our research and clinical expertise with the capability to develop and manufacture our own products," says Una Ryan, Ph.D., AVANT's president and CEO.

AVANT's plans come as Romney announced that seven other biotech companies in the state plan to expand in Massachusetts in the next three to five years. Those companies include Abbott Bioresearch Center of Worcester; Alkermes of Cambridge and Chelsea;endoVia Medical Inc. of Norwood; Ipsen of Milford; MicroTest Laboratories Inc. of Agawam; Therion Biologics of Cambridge; and, ViaCell Inc. of Boston.