| BALTIMORE, MD Fri, Sep 26, 2008 Officials from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) today announced that BIOMERE LLC, a subsidiary of Worcester, Mass.-based Biomedical Research Models (BRM), will locate its corporate headquarters at the UMB BioPark in early 2009. The company, which will be expanding the vaccine platform developed at BRM and initially hire up to 25 employees, signed a lease this week for 14,000 square feet in Building Two, which was developed by Wexford Science + Technology.
“Maryland’s many resources – world-class colleges and universities, cutting-edge technology companies, highly-skilled workforce, and outstanding quality of life – position our State to be the national leader for biotech and life sciences,” said Secretary David W. Edgerley. “We have been working to bring this company to Maryland since first meeting with them last year at the annual BIO conference in Boston, and we look forward to helping them grow in their new home.”
“There are several factors we considered in deciding to locate in the University of Maryland BioPark,” said Dennis Guberski, founder and CEO of BRM, Inc. and Chairman of BIOMERE. “The close proximity to the University of Maryland, multiple government agencies and installations such as NIH and Ft. Detrick, plus the concentration of more than 350 biotech companies made Maryland very attractive to us. In addition, the State has outstanding programs to support the growth of emerging life sciences companies.”
BIOMERE is the second bio company in the last week to announce a move to Maryland. Last week, OpGen, formerly based in Wisconsin, celebrated the opening of its new corporate headquarters in Gaithersburg, noting that Governor O’Malley’s bio initiatives played a key role in their decision to move to Maryland. The Governor unveiled in June his Bio 2020 plan, which is a 10-year, $1.3 billion dollar investment in Maryland's tremendous bioscience infrastructure that will result in an estimated $6.3 billion in private and federal investments by 2020. In addition, Maryland has also been ranked second nationwide for technology economy preparedness by the Milken Institute.
About DBED:
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing workforce training and financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State's many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit www.choosemaryland.org.
About Biomedical Research Models:
Founded in 1996, Biomedical Research Models, Inc. (BRM) develops and utilizes specialty animal models to determine the efficacy of new drugs in preventing or ameliorating human disease, including diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
About University of Maryland BioPark:
The University of Maryland BioPark offers sophisticated laboratory and office space for early-stage to mature bioscience companies. To date, the BioPark includes 360,000 square feet in two multi tenant buildings and one 638 space parking garage. The project has created 200 jobs and $128 million in capital investment. The BioPark was named by the Association of University Research Parks as the best emerging research park of the year in October 2007. For more information, please visit www.umbbiopark.com
About Wexford Science and Technology:
Wexford Science + Technology, (www.wexfordequities.com) is a privately held real estate investment and development company that focuses on serving the real estate needs of science and technology based organizations. Headquartered in Baltimore, Wexford Science + Technology has projects in the contiguous United States and Hawaii, including partnerships with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, The Science Center (Philadelphia), Illinois Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University and Pennsylvania State University Hershey Medical Center.
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