RALEIGH, NC -- North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and state commerce officials announced on Wednesday that Novo Nordisk Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., will invest between $1.2 and $1.7 billion dollars to build a new bio-manufacturing facility in Johnston County and create nearly 700 new jobs over the next five years.

The new North Carolina plant will manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients for its diabetes care products. Novo Nordisk currently employs more than 700 people at an insulin production plant in Clayton, near where it plans to construct its new facility.

Jobs at its new production site will average $68,420 in annual compensation. Johnston County’s overall average wage currently equals $34,448 per year. New positions will span manufacturing, administrative, technical services and support personnel.

Novo Nordisk will receive a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) from North Carolina to help the project along; receipt of the award is based on proof of job creation and other performance requirements. Over 12 years, the JDIG could yield aggregate benefits to Novo Nordisk of $15.8 million upon the creation of approximately 700 jobs.

A leading global manufacturer of insulin and related diabetes treatment products, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk employs 39,700 people across 75 countries.