Employees acting strangely prompt call to authorities.

Sheriff’s deputies, HazMat units and FBI agents responded to a suspicious activity call Friday afternoon at MannKind Corporation on Ave. Paine in the Valencia Commerce Center.

Sgt. Ernie DeArmas said that a source within the company called after noticing two employees of the firm walking around and looking closely at a machine that uses radioactive materials.

“With the possibility of those type of materials being used for terrorist purposes, they called us in to investigate,” he said. “Since the FBI is the expert in that area, they’re inside talking with the employees.”

According to their website, MannKind is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products for diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

Diane Palumbo, who is a corporate officer in human resources at MannKind, refused comment, citing company policy.

FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller said the agency would comment after its initial investigation was complete. Check back with hometownstation.com for updates to this story.

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