Roche inaugurates translational and Clinical Research Center at the Alexandria Center for life science in New York City

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) inaugurated today the Translational and Clinical Research Center (TCRC) at the prestigious Alexandria Center for Life Science in Manhattan’s East Side Medical Corridor by hosting New York officials and dignitaries as well as life science leaders from institutions across the U.S. The Roche TCRC is part of the Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) organization, and will serve as the hub for pRED activities in North America, underscoring the center’s importance to pRED and Roche. The TCRC staff is comprised of some 250 highly experienced drug developers who are focused on early clinical development of Roche drug candidates. In addition to advancing Roche’s existing portfolio, the TCRC experts will aim to access external innovation by identifying collaborations ranging from very early discovery platforms through advanced stage molecules. The Roche TCRC staff will officially move into the Alexandria Center for Life Science on January 2, 2014.

“We are pleased to have the TCRC based at the Alexandria Center for Life Science and excited by the collaborative opportunities afforded by its proximity to patients and world-class expertise in experimental medicine,” said John C. Reed, MD, PhD, Head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development. “New York City has much to offer – it is the most populated city in America, has seven outstanding medical schools and also ranks second in the U.S. in medical research funding (NIH). Therefore, we believe this is the best location to pursue the goals of the TCRC as well as our global research and development organization.”

“TCRC will serve as an important conduit between the life sciences community in North America and the global Roche organization,” said Judith Dunn, PhD, Head of the Roche TCRC. “Our location in the Alexandria Center for Life Science will enable us to combine our expertise with that of world class researchers here in a vibrant scientific environment. We will be engaging collaborators in a transformative approach to drug development, which will provide solutions for unmet medical needs and ultimately improve the lives of patients and their families.”

“We are honored that Roche has chosen the Alexandria Center for Life Science as the home for its Translational and Clinical Research Center,” said Joel S. Marcus, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. “New York City has an unparalleled concentration of world-class academic medical research centers and is the ideal platform for Roche to substantially enhance its collaboration and translational clinical efforts.”

Following the inauguration ceremony, Roche hosted a scientific symposium with an impressive line-up of keynote speakers who discussed advances in key areas of research being conducted by pRED. The areas of oncology, neuroscience, diabetic complications and infectious diseases were featured, with particular emphasis on acute myeloid leukemia, spinal muscular atrophy, diabetic kidney disease and influenza. During the symposium, Roche also presented TCRC Young Investigator Awards to four promising researchers:

Carolina Bigarella, PhD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine for cancer research; Christian Simon, PhD, Columbia University for neurology research; Alexander Grabner, MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for diabetes research; and Priya Luthra, PhD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine for infectious diseases research. Roche encouraged applications from researchers who have completed their graduate degrees (MD and/or PhD) within the past five years and who are studying disease areas of interest to Roche. Grants were awarded to the four institutions that employ the researchers.