Chesterford Research Park is delighted to announce the expansion of existing occupier, CellCentric, within the Mansion House at the heart of the Park. The clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of a novel drug for specific cancers has renewed its current lease for Suite 3 in the 19th Century converted manor house, whilst at the same time expanding into Suite 4 within the same building.
Having secured $33m in funding from Morningside Venture Investments at the end of 2020, clinical trials for CellCentric’s novel drug CCS1477 have been taking place for over a year. The trials are treating patients with late-stage prostate cancer, blood cancers and those profiled with certain molecular drivers/mutations. Operating in 18 hospitals in the UK, CellCentric also has approvals in the US and four countries within the EU and is currently transitioning from Phase I to Phase II trials in multiple parallel settings.
As a result of the increased clinical trial activity the company is also continuing to expand, building out its clinical operations team, as well as its finance function; the former in Alderley Park, the latter at Chesterford Research Park.
Will West, CEO, CellCentric commented of the expansion: “Taking novel science from concept to a first-in-class drug that is now starting to show benefits to patients in clinical trials, is incredibly fulfilling. It has been an amazing collaborative effort with our research and clinical partners, contractors and stakeholders. Getting to this point is a hugely positive step. Having our base at Chesterford Research Park has been fantastic, being located within such a strong bioscience and pharma catchment area, with strong support companies all around us. The Park environment and its facilities (including restaurant, health and fitness centre and additional meeting space) are great, helping operationally and when it comes to recruitment.”
Julian Cobourne, Head of Regional Offices, Aviva Investors, joint owners of Chesterford Research Park with Uttlesford District Council added: “We are very pleased to have been able to support CellCentric in its expansion, as the clinical trials for its novel drug CCS1477 go from strength to strength. Having watched the company’s progress with great interest since its arrival at the Park, I am delighted that CellCentric continues to choose Chesterford as the location from which to further expand operations.
“There has been a lot of activity at the Park over the last 12 months, most recently the completion of the refurbishment of the Emmanuel Building. This created an expansion opportunity for another existing occupier, Superdielectrics, and will shortly enable us to welcome some new names to the Park too. With laboratory enabled space within the Cambridge Cluster attracting ever stronger demand we are now developing plans for the next phase of development here at Chesterford – a mixed lab and office use, multi-occupier building of approximately 60,000 sq ft – which, subject to planning could be ready for occupation by the end of the first quarter, 2024.”
Chesterford Research Park offers advanced laboratory and office space and superb amenity facilities set within 250 acres of idyllic parkland near Cambridge – modern, dynamic, flexible space perfectly appointed for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and technology R&D companies of all sizes. In addition to CellCentric, the Park is home to companies that are making a real difference, including Arecor, AstraZeneca, Lonza, Charles River Laboratories, Domainex, Microbiotica and Mestag Therapeutics. Scientists, entrepreneurs and investors working side by side at the Park to develop life-changing drugs within a sustainable environment.
Park owners Aviva Investors and Uttlesford District Council are advised by Chesterford Research Park’s joint commercial agents, Cheffins and Savills.
For further information, contact Michael Jones at Cheffins - michael.jones@cheffins.co.uk