January 27, 2015
By Riley McDermid, BioSpace.com Breaking News Sr. Editor
Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG is reported to be in talks to sell its former West Sussex, U.K. campus to the University of Brighton, British media outlets reported Tuesday.
A possible sales price was not disclosed, but would likely be in the millions of pounds, because the school wants to buy the site lock, stock and barrel, including a historic Art Deco structure, generous office space and multiple laboratories.“We are delighted to be able to confirm that we are entering into exclusive negotiations with the University of Brighton for the sale of our former Horsham site at Wimblehurst Road,” said Novartis in a statement.
In related news, Roche said this week that Nutley, N.J. research and development site will soon be a new medical school administered by Seton Hall University and Hackensack University Medical Center. The two will use at 13 or 14 of the site’s more than 100 acres, where for 80 years Hoffman-La Roche developed medicines like Valium, Librium and tuberculosis drug isoniazid. Roche closed the Nutley site in 2013 and has not disclosed deal terms.
“This is still subject to the usual negotiations when trying to agree a contract, but the university’s proposal offers an exciting opportunity which could bring long term benefits to the town and local residents, as well as realize our ambition in leaving a scientific legacy at the site,” said the company. “We will now work closely with the university and Horsham District Council to try to make this happen.”
Novartis originally closed the site last June after overhauling and consolidating its research operations. But if it sells the location to the school, university officials have said the new campus could bring £1.7bn investment to the region over 10 years, create 2,250 jobs and enroll as many as 3,500 students.
“The university’s proposal offers an exciting opportunity which could bring long-term benefits to the town as well as realize our ambition in leaving a legacy at the site,” said a university spokesperson in a statement.
UB Vice-Chancellor Julian Crampton added that although the talks with Novartis were in the “early stage,” any eventual sale could help the school create an anchor for education in the Gatwick Diamond business area. The university currently has five other campuses in Hastings, Brighton and Eastbourne.
“We will be working closely with Horsham District Council and the Coast to Capital Local Economic Partnership, as well as local business, schools and colleges, to ensure our plans develop in a way that benefits the local economy and the local community,” said Crampton.
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