23 Apr Roche opens Madison facility
MADISON – Roche Madison Inc. opened its facility in University Research Park today. The building contains chemistry and biology labs for work with the company’s global RNA Therapeutics group, which focuses on the discovery and development of innovative nucleic acid based technologies.
The Madison division now employs a 45-member staff. Roche said it plans to hire additional staff during the next six to 12 months as part of its planned expansion.
“The scientific efforts in Madison are complementary to those at our other global RNA sites,” according to Lou Renzetti, global head of RNA Therapeutics at Roche. “Our colleagues in Madison have a lot to offer in terms of their expertise, which will significantly help our drug development efforts.”
The company bought Mirus Bio Corp. in 2008 and renovated the 24,000-square-foot facility at a cost of $4.4 million, with additional equipment costs of $2.8 million. The company had been occupying a 9,900-square-foot building.
According to Jim Hagstrom, vice president of operations at Roche Madison, the new facilities will help the firm continue to develop technology. “As one of the few pharmaceutical sites in the state, we look forward to remaining a vital part of the Madison landscape and to finding innovative ways of getting RNAi therapeutics into specific disease targets to benefit patients,” stated Hagstrom.
With U.S. operations based in New Jersey, Swiss pharmaceutical firm Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. bought the private Mirus Bio Corp. for $125 million last year.