Further evidence that BioCity Nottingham is Europe's
fastest-growing bioscience incubator comes today as the company
reports significant successes in tenant commercial activity.
Despite the straightened economic climate, 127 new employees were
taken on by companies at BioCity in 2010 and three firms in
particular are set for further expansion.
Critical Pharmaceuticals, a University of Nottingham spin-out
company, is to double the size of its BioCity Nottingham laboratory
and office facilities this month by relocating to a 3000 sq ft
dedicated facility in the Laurus Building on the Pennyfoot Street
site. The move will significantly increase the amount of laboratory
space for performing research and development work on Critical
Pharmaceutical technologies and increase productivity and
efficiency. The company has already recruited one new scientist and
intends to make further appointments shortly. 2010 was an important
year for Critical Pharmaceuticals when their lead drug development
project moved from research into pre-clinical development. This
year the company will conduct its first human clinical trial and
will progress a second program into pre-clinical development.
"We are delighted to be able to grow Critical Pharmaceuticals at
BioCity Nottingham," says Professor Lisbeth Illum CEO Critical
Pharmaceuticals. "BioCity have been extremely supportive of our
business and we benefit greatly from being close to other life
science companies and specialist providers in BioCity for
collaborations and sharing expertise and knowledge."
Critical's expansion coincides with the announcement that
another BioCity company R5 Pharmaceuticals will also expand its
operation into the Laurus Building by creating a further analytical
chemistry laboratory. Growing demand for R5's product development
services requires the company to more than double its GMP
manufacturing facilities, and to take on more sales staff to cover
growth in the US and Europe.
Paul Titley, CEO for R5 says: "We are delighted to be able to
expand without the disruption of changing sites or having the
clutter of building works. This is another chapter in the
unstoppable growth of R5, the formulation business of Aesica
Pharmaceuticals."
The latest BioCity tenant to 'fly the nest' is NHIS Limited
whose health sector consultancy has outgrown its bio-incubator
space and relocated to Regent Street, Nottingham in December.
Having grown from two Head Office staff members to eight in two
years, the team expects to expand further to 16 in the next 6
months.
Managing Director Nick Merryfield recognises BioCity's role in
their success: "Having such a prestigious office base in our early
years gave us the kind of gravitas usually enjoyed by bigger
companies. We made the most of onsite support from Medilink and the
Healthcare and Bioscience iNet as well as the expertise of several
smaller tenants so early company life was made significantly
easier; the results speak for themselves."
Critical Pharmaceuticals' expansion has released 1,700 sq ft of
state-of-the-art chemistry facilities including ducted fume hoods,
cold rooms and access to central facilities such as autoclave and
glass wash. A future occupant of the laboratory suite would join
over 70 life science companies based at BioCity Nottingham who
benefit from central office services, meeting facilities and
opportunities for networking.
"This is the first time since 2006 that a sizeable chemistry
laboratory has come available," says BioCity CEO Dr Glenn Crocker.
"This is exactly how BioCity is designed to operate, enabling
bioscience, pharmaceutical, medtech and healthcare companies to
become established, benefit from being part of a successful cluster
of life science firms, and expand their operations whilst remaining
on this site. At a time when the government is relying on
innovation and commercial success from our sector, bio-incubators
like BioCity Nottingham are using resources to great effect," says
Dr Crocker.
For more information about BioCity Nottingham, please visit
their website here: www.biocity.co.uk