Biopharmaceutical Leader Promising

200–300 New Jobs In New Haven

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced June 19 that leading biopharmaceutical company Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc will establish its global headquarters at a new facility to be built in New Haven by 2015. The state will support the project through the First Five program, an economic initiative of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) that is creating jobs by spurring large-scale business development projects, according to a release.

The company will relocate its existing Connecticut workforce of more than 350 employees to the facility once it is complete and expects to create 200–300 new jobs in the state by 2017. In addition, hundreds of jobs in service industries are expected to be created as a result of Alexion’s move to New Haven.

 “Fast-growing companies like Alexion are true engines of economic growth,” Gov Malloy said. “They attract investments, spur production and jobs in other industries, and improve our overall economy. Their decision to grow here in our state is a major step forward in our larger strategy to establish Connecticut as a world-renowned life sciences hub.”

The governor said that bioscience is a $284 billion business, and the investments made “will ensure that Connecticut is in a position to compete for every dollar for years to come.”

 Alexion, which recently joined the S&P 500 index, provides development and commercialization of therapeutic products for patients with severe, life-threatening, and ultrarare disorders.

 With operations in more than 30 countries around the world, Alexion has chosen to locate its global headquarters in New Haven, along with the company’s United States research center and North America commercial operations.

Alexion’s new facility will expand downtown New Haven alongside the Yale School of Medicine/Yale-New Haven Hospital campus.

“Our new headquarters in New Haven will support the rapid growth of our company as we expand our global mission to transform the lives of patients with severe and life-threatening, ultrarare disorders,” said Leonard Bell, MD, chief executive officer of Alexion.

“By combining our research, operational, and administrative headquarter functions into a single, state-of-the-art facility within the vibrant New Haven community we will maximize the efficiency of our organization while remaining in Connecticut,” Mr Bell said. “We appreciate the governor’s vision to support the continued growth of New Haven as a major biopharmaceutical hub that will bring hope to patients, innovation to the industry, and drive economic growth in New Haven.”

The company was founded in 1992 as a small biopharmaceutical startup in New Haven’s Science Park. Outgrowing that location, the company moved its headquarters to Cheshire in 2000, where it has again outgrown its existing space.

 Winstanley Enterprises is developing the $100 million, state-of-the-art, laboratory and office building in which Alexion will be the anchor tenant. The building, which will employ the latest sustainable technology, will stand on a newly developed urban boulevard at 100 College Street.

This area, known as Downtown Crossing, will undergo significant improvements and will include:

*A 400,000-plus-square-foot facility for office, laboratory, R&D, and retail;

*A separate 600–800 space-parking garage;

*Street-level retail shops and cafés along College Street;

*Infrastructure improvements including surrounding road improvements, rehabilitation of the College Street Bridge and access to the neighboring Air Rights garage; and

*Overall pedestrian and bike enhancements in the area.

 “This project is a true partnership between Alexion, DECD, the Departments of Transportation and Energy and Environmental Protection, the city of New Haven, and developer Winstanley Enterprises,” said Catherine Smith, commissioner of DECD. “We are delighted they will continue to anchor our fast-growing biopharmaceutical industry. New Haven and the entire region will benefit from their continued presence and growth.”

 The state is supporting the project with up to $51 million in assistance through the First Five program, which is administered by the DECD.

Alexion will receive a ten-year loan of $20 million at a rate of one percent with principal and interest deferred for five years. Loan forgiveness of $16 to $20 million will be based on the creation of 200–300 full-time jobs; a $6 million grant for laboratory construction and equipment; and Urban and Industrial Sites Reinvestment Tax Credits of up to $25 million.