RICHMOND, VA –Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, a leading mid-Atlantic life sciences community in Richmond, VA, today announced the international biotechnology company, AmpliPhi BioSciences Corporation (OTCQB: APHB) has moved its east coast operations to the Park, where they currently have a research lab. Ampliphi, with research facilities in Sydney, Australia and cGMP manufacturing in Europe, is a global leader in the research and development of bacteriophage-based antibacterial therapies to treat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. In March, the company successfully completed a $13 million financing to support upcoming human clinical trials targeting multi-drug resistant S. aureus including MRSA, which will be conducted at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Speaking about the move, Chief Business Officer Baxter Phillips III said, “Since beginning my career here in the biotech park with Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM), a successful graduate of the Park, I have watched the biotech park grow several fold from a regional player into a leading life sciences community with national presence. With the strong support of Gov. McAuliffe’s Virginia Biosciences Initiative, and both Jeff Gallagher and Carrie Roth’s leadership in continuing to grow this innovative community, AmpliPhi is very pleased to move our operations to the Park where we can be an integral part of this growth.”
The Research Park also announced RVA Yeast Labs, a leading yeast and bacteria supplier for both professional brewers and home brewers, has established the company’s laboratories in the Park. Malachy McKenna, co-founder of RVA Yeast Labs said, “We are happy to have our lab in the Biotech Center and be a part of the Research Park. The support services and multiple shared resources available to us coupled with the engagement in this innovative community will allow our company to continue to grow, helping to further establish Richmond as a premier community for local craft beer.”
“We are excited these businesses have chosen to be a part of our knowledge-based innovation district. This is a great opportunity for them to become engaged in the innovation ecosystem we are growing in the Richmond region and we are looking forward to having them as residents of our thriving innovative and entrepreneurial community,” stated Carrie Roth, President and CEO of the Research Park.
Four other companies have opened offices or labs in the Biotech Center at the Research Park, including: DNARx and ScienGenix Laboratory, and Lonsa Science and Affinity Molecules are residents in the Shared Lab. Nutriati, a food product startup, has expanded their presence in the Biotech Center. Five other companies have joined as virtual residents of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park. —-
New Research Park Residents
- Affinity Molecules focuses on research and development in biomedical science and early stage drug development.
- Ampliphi Biosciences Corporation a global leader in developing bacteriophage-based antibacterial therapies to treat drug resistant infections. (www.ampliphibio.com)
- DNARx specializes in developing gene delivery technologies for cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s.
- Lonsa Science provides high-quality stable cell lines for protein expression or gene knock down that meet your specific research needs, including gene cloning, cell-line development, gene amplification, single clone selection, and cell line characterization.
- Nutriati is a plant-based ingredient nutrition company that has a goal of offering more sustainable, tastier, and healthier food product options. (http://nutriati.com/index.html)
- RVA Yeast Labs is a yeast and bacteria supplier for professional and homebrewers, providing the freshest yeast for optimal fermentation. (www.rvayeastlabs.com)
- ScienGenix Laboratory offers a wide range of services relating to health and wellness in the Richmond area.
New Virtual Residents
- J. Spratley Enterprises USA
- Logos Biosciences
- Sanyal Biotechnology
- Threshold Counsel
About the Park
The Research Park is a life sciences community adjacent to the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center―housing private sector companies, research institutes, non-profits, and state and federal laboratories on a 34-acre campus in downtown Richmond, Virginia. The Park is home to over 60 private and non-profit companies, state and federal laboratories, and research institutes/administrative functions of VCU and the VCU Health System, employing approximately 2,400 researchers, scientists, engineers and support personnel. Major member organizations in the park include the VCU Innovation Gateway, the Altria Center for Research and Technology, United Network for Organ Sharing, Health Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc. and the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. The Park also has developed partnerships with neighboring Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico Counties to expand its 34-acre downtown campus to extend the reach of the Research Park.
