Evolva opens US Research Center
Basel, Switzerland, and Palo Alto, CA, USA , December 12th 2008 – Evolva SA, a biotech company that develops drugs with genetic chemistry, announced the opening of a research center in Palo Alto, CA, that will serve as the US center of operations for wholly-owned subsidiary Genetic Chemistry, Inc. (GCI).
The new research center has both office and over 10,000 sq. ft. of laboratory space and will house GCI’s fast growing staff of scientists and managers. GCI has a $22.8 Million Antibacterial Contract with the US Army Research Office (ARO), which was signed in April, 2008, to use Evolva’s genetic chemistry technologies to discover new anti-infective drugs that target B. pseudomallei.
B. pseudomallei causes melioidosis, a disease endemic to southeast Asia that can lead to death if untreated, and is a potential biowarfare agent. New drugs that target this pathogen should also be effective in treating other infectious diseases, and GCI has the commercial rights to develop the drugs it discovers under the ARO Contract for all disease indications.
Neil Goldsmith, CEO & Managing Director of Evolva, said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of GCI’s new research center, which is Evolva’s fourth research center, in another key location for the biotechnology industry. GCI’s Bay Area presence conveys to our US partners our commitment to deliver on the contract with the US Army Research Office and to exploit our technologies and product candidates with US partners.”
Melya Hughes Crameri, CEO of Genetic Chemistry, said: “We are proud of our new technology research center, which will be fully functional by the end of this year and will bring Evolva’s powerful drug discovery technologies and important new product candidates to the US market.”
- End of the Press Release –
About Evolva
Evolva uses genetic chemistry technology platforms to replicate, on an industrial basis, the ability of nature to evolve molecules with exquisite “design”. Evolva employs c. 65 people at locations in Switzerland, India, USA and Denmark. For more information see www.evolva.com.
Contact Details
Joshna Pillay
joshnap@geneticchemistry.com,
phone: 650 856 2436