Archive for year: 2019

Cambridge, UK, 19 November 2019: Chesterford Research Park and Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, announce that Microbiotica is relocating to the Park in a two-phase move that will be completed in June 2020.

Microbiotica’s continuing development and expansion, and the ability of Chesterford Research Park to flexibly accommodate both Microbiotica’s immediate and longer-term growth requirements led to the Park being chosen as the preferred location.

Under the first phase of the relocation, Microbiotica is taking two suites within Chesterford Research Park’s Science Village, a short-term solution to facilitate current growth requirements. Until June 2020 Microbiotica will retain its current premises at the Wellcome Genome Campus, at which point the whole organisation will move into its own purpose designed facilities in the Newnham Building, which is currently undergoing reconfiguration and refurbishment.

Situated on a prominent position on the Park, within close reach of the well-appointed central Nucleus facilities, the Newnham Building will provide a newly constructed double height glazed reception to the western entrance as well as a new entrance to the eastern end of the building. The flexibility of the building has enabled it to be divided into individual suites, which can cater for a range of differing scientific activities.

Mike Romanos, Co-founder and CEO, Microbiotica said: “Following a period of rapid progress we require a new facility to support our current growth trajectory and to allow us to consolidate our whole team in one building. It is also important for us to stay in the Cambridge area and to continue to play an active role in the Cambridge life sciences cluster community. Chesterford Research Park has provided us with a solution for our immediate short-term expansion, which was important before our permanent facility, tailored to suit our future needs, is ready in Summer 2020. We very much appreciate the flexibility that Chesterford Research Park has shown us.”

There has been a high level of interest in the Newnham Building. Confirmation of Microbiotica’s pre-let, coupled with the recent announcement that existing Park occupier, Isomerase is also committed to a suite, leaves just one 11,518 sq ft (1,070 sq m) suite. This is currently being marketed by Savills and Cheffins.

William Clarke, Director, Office & R&D, Savills Cambridge Office commented: “Interest in the Newnham building has been exceptional, and I’m delighted that via flexibility of approach we have been able to accommodate Microbiotica’s requirements, both now and into the longer term. Chesterford’s development strategy is astute and is now paying dividends as it has enabled a range of accommodation to be created, suitable for both start-up and scale-up companies. It also gives us the ability to think creatively about suitable options for organisations such as Microbiotica, answering both short-term need and long-term expectations.”

Julian Cobourne, Senior Asset Manager, Aviva Investors, joint owners of Chesterford Research Park with Uttlesford District Council commented: “The combined commitment of both Aviva Investors and Uttlesford District Council to support the growing Cambridge cluster via the provision of superb lab/R&D facilities suitable for companies at all stages of development continues to drive our development objectives for Chesterford Research Park. The development of the Newnham Building has created significant interest; resulting in our increased ability to support both current occupiers as their requirements change and grow, in addition to attracting new occupiers to the Park. Chesterford Research Park is a vibrant community of exciting companies all concentrated on delivering the life science innovations of the future and I am delighted to welcome Microbiotica to that community.”

Cambridge, UK, 25 September 2019 – Microbiotica, announces the appointment of Thomas Lynch as the new non-Executive Chairman of its Board, from 1 September 2019.

Thomas Lynch brings extensive life sciences and wider board-level experience which will be invaluable in supporting Microbiotica’s strategic growth. He currently holds a number of board positions on private and publicly listed life science companies globally. These include: Chairman of Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Adherium Ltd (ASX: ADR), Evofem Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVFM) and Amarin Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Ltd (the principal operating subsidiary of Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ: AMRN)); and Board member of Stamford Devices Ltd, Aerogen Ltd and GW Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: GWPH). He served on the board of Icon plc (one of the world’s largest clinical research organisations) from 1993 to 2016, and from 2012 to 2016 as its Chairman.

Thomas also has significant experience governing hospital and medical charity boards. He is the Chair of the Ireland East Hospital Group, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and the Dublin Academic Medical Centre. Thomas is also the Chair of Clinical Research Development Ireland (a not-for-profit research partnership between Ireland’s medical schools), and a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA. He has previously served as a member of the Expert Group on Resource Allocation in the Health Service.

Thomas started his career at KPMG, before moving onto Elan Corporation plc (now merged with Perrigo (NYSE: PRGO)) where he served as CFO, Vice Chairman and a Senior Advisor over eight years, leading its transition from drug delivery to biotechnology. He founded a company that became Warner Chilcott plc (acquired by Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN)), and was Chairman and Chief Executive of Amarin Corporation plc, which he successfully repositioned as a cardiovascular company.

Thomas graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in Economics and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. He has received honorary doctorates from University College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast and was appointed a knight of Saint Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI.

Thomas Lynch, non-Executive Chairman of Microbiotica, said: “The microbiome is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting areas of biomedicine and one that I believe presents great opportunity. Microbiotica’s world-leading platform positions the Company to become a leader in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, as illustrated by its impressive ongoing collaborations with industry, academia and clinicians. I look forward to working with the Board and the team at Microbiotica to help steer its growth trajectory and maximise the Company’s potential to bring new therapies to market.”

Mike Romanos, CEO of Microbiotica, said: “We are delighted to welcome Tom as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Microbiotica has progressed considerably since spinning out of the Sanger Institute in 2016: in its capabilities, its pipeline of therapeutics and biomarkers, and strategic collaborations such as the multi-year $534m partnership with Genentech. Tom’s international experience in developing fast-maturing companies will be invaluable to our future ambitions. We would also like to thank Sam Williams, who has chaired our Board since the Company’s inception and who will continue as a non-executive investor director.”