New Hampshire’s latest life sciences-focused real estate development is now under construction.

Portsmouth drugmaker Lonza and Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals broke ground Aug. 30 on a new biomanufacturing plant at Pease Tradeport, the former air base that straddles the Portsmouth-Newington line.

The 130,000-square-foot structure is a joint venture that will host 300 jobs and make drugs that Vertex plans to use in clinical trials looking for medicines to treat type 1 diabetes.

Lonza’s and Vertex’s leadership teams were joined at the event by several state officials, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern.

“We are proud to support Vertex on this journey with a combination of deep scientific, regulatory and manufacturing expertise, alongside our established track record in supporting the commercialization of cell therapy products. Portsmouth is the ideal location for the new facility, as it enables us to build upon our existing infrastructure, capabilities and talent in the area,” Lonza CEO Pierre-Alain Ruffieux said in a statement.