KEY TAKEAWAYS: $7 million investment brings 31,000-square-foot facility to Shreveport Project expected to create 69 direct and 93 indirect jobs Facility will produce USDA-regulated animal health therapies Average salary for new jobs near $100,000 annually   Akston has opened a 31,000-sq uare-foot manufacturing facility in Shreveport as part of a $7 million expansion that is expected to create 162 new jobs in northwest Louisiana, state and company officials announced. The project, located at BRF’s InterTech Park in Caddo Parish, will support commercial-scale production of U.S. Department of Agriculture-regulated animal health therapies. Company leaders said manufacturing operations are expected to begin in the coming months following final build-out and commissioning. Massachusetts-based Akston plans to create 69 direct jobs over five years, with an average annual salary of nearly $100,000 — about 76% higher than the average wage in Caddo Parish, according to Louisiana Economic Development. The state estimates the expansion will generate an additional 93 indirect jobs, bringing the total potential employment impact to 162 positions across the region. LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said Akston’s investment reflects Louisiana’s growing footprint in advanced life sciences and biotechnology manufacturing. She noted that high-wage projects help diversify the state’s economy and strengthen emerging industry clusters. The new facility sits on nearly 2.5 acres within the InterTech Park developed by BRF. The site includes cleanrooms for biologics production, quality control laboratories, fill-finish manufacturing capabilities, cold storage, warehousing and office space. Akston Co-founder and CEO Todd Zion said in a statement that the expansion marks a significant step in commercializing the company’s protein-based therapeutics for pets. “This new facility is a major milestone in our plan to commercialize our USDA-regulated protein therapeutics aimed at addressing unmet needs in pet health,” Zion said. He added that expanding U.S.-based manufacturing capacity was a strategic priority for the company. Founded in Beverly, Massachusetts, Akston develops protein therapies for companion animals using its proprietary Ambifect Fc-fusion platform. The company operates Good Manufacturing Practice biologics facilities in Massachusetts focused on FDA-regulated products. The Shreveport site extends its vertically integrated model to support USDA-regulated therapeutics and larger-scale commercial production. Local officials said the project strengthens the region’s growing healthcare and technology corridor. The Caddo Parish Industrial Development Board supported the recruitment effort, and BRF leaders welcomed Akston as part of broader efforts to attract high-growth companies to north Louisiana. To secure the project, Louisiana offered Akston an incentives package that includes participation in the state’s High Impact Jobs program. Akston began occupying the Shreveport facility in July 2025. Company officials said the expansion is designed to accelerate delivery of new treatments to veterinarians while contributing to Louisiana’s expanding biotech manufacturing sector. ...read more read less