Press Release

Cambridge Biotechnology Ltd (CBT) moves to ‘Minerva’ at Babraham’s bio-innovation campus

9 November 2005

Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd (BBT) announces the first tenants for its new commercial building on the Babraham Research Campus. Cambridge Biotechnology Ltd, a drug-discovery research company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of pain, inflammation and obesity, will move into the customised, state-of-the-art facilities on 14 November 2005.

Named ‘Minerva’ after the Roman goddess of wisdom, the new building provides grow-on units for early stage bioventures as they make the transition out of incubation facilities. It is part of BBT’s innovative approach to supporting start-up and early stage biomedical ventures. Minerva is the first of three BioDevelopment buildings, offering flexible laboratory and office accommodation, which are anticipated will stimulate and facilitate the knowledge transfer process from research to commercial exploitation on the campus.

Dr David Hardman, CEO of BBT says, “The BioDevelopment buildings are the latest development in our Babraham Research Campus strategy to integrate a world class science base with innovative ventures exploiting new technologies relating to human healthcare. These new buildings enable companies to expand into new facilities on flexible terms, a unique proposition in the region. CBT has been highly productive since its inception in 2001 and we are delighted to welcome the company to Babraham.”

Dr Peter Richardson, Managing Director of CBT said, "Moving to new facilities at Babraham represents a major new phase in the growth of CBT. The new laboratories will provide CBT's drug discovery teams with excellent working conditions and will ensure optimal efficiency and safety for all its research staff. A location on the Babraham Research Campus also benefits from the proximity of a host of innovative biotech companies and prestigious academic groups which provides an optimal environment for a company such as CBT to thrive."

Cyclacel, the Dundee-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel, mechanism-targeted drugs to treat human cancers, has also moved into Minerva from Babraham’s Bioincubator facilities.

Dr Richard Dyer, Director of the Babraham Institute and Chairman of BBT, adds:  “These developments at Babraham underscore the pivotal role of the Babraham Research Campus (BRC) in the southern Cambridge biotechnology cluster. Through nurturing, from the earliest stage, bioventures that deliver innovation at the forefront of biomedical research, the campus plays an active part in supporting regional development and enhancing economic prosperity. The juxtaposition of companies with the Babraham Institute on the campus also allows synergistic relationships to flourish between academic and business communities, better enabling scientific advances to be brought to commercial realisation, and complements the internationally competitive research of the Institute.”