Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), A Sysmex Group Company, has celebrated the opening of its new facility in Cambridge, UK.
Oxford, UK – 6 June 2019. Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), A Sysmex Group Company, has celebrated the opening of its new facility in Cambridge, UK. The opening ceremony, which took place on 3rd June at the company’s new premises on the prestigious Cambridge Science Park, was attended by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and local media as well as top-level representatives from OGT and its parent company, Sysmex Corporation.
The new facility boasts impressive, state-of-the-art refitted laboratories and is approximately three times the floorspace of the previous site. OGT acquired fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) probe manufacturer Cytocell® in February 2014 with 30 employees. Since then the company has significantly increased its portfolio, including launching the largest FDA-cleared in vitrodiagnostic (IVD) FISH probe range for AML (Acute myeloid Leukaemia) and MDS (Myelodysplastic syndromes) on the market. The number of employees based in Cambridge has increased to 53 and continues to grow, driven by strong double-digit sales growth. As a result, Sysmex has demonstrated its confidence in OGT and the Cytocell brand by expanding operations with the opening of this new facility to cope with increased volume of product manufacture and shipment. In addition, OGT plans to create a training and demonstration facility where customers can benefit from the company’s renowned FISH expertise.
John Anson, CEO of OGT commented, “We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the Cambridge life science hub. OGT continues to perform well with sustained growth and this investment by Sysmex will accelerate our next phase of product development and global expansion.”
As well as demonstrating its support for OGT, Sysmex also affirmed its confidence in the UK’s life science industry, by confirming that it will set up a global R&D facility within the OGT laboratories - similar to other sites in Hamburg and Chicago. This facility will serve to evaluate new technologies in the life sciences field and pursue collaborations with key opinion leaders, delivering innovative new products to the market. The facility will also be a hub for networking within the life sciences community, Cambridge University and global healthcare companies
International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox MP said “With a combination of top universities, research institutions, global life sciences companies, increasing government support and world-leading talent, the UK is a fantastic place to invest in research and development. As an international economic department, DIT is determined to boost investment into our life sciences sector and we are pleased to support Sysmex’s significant investment in Cambridge. We are busy forging a vision of the UK as a world-leader in innovation and technology, and aim to make the UK the best place for life sciences businesses to grow.”
For more information please visit www.ogt.com.
For further information, please contact:
Oxford Gene Technology, Begbroke Science Park, Begbroke Hill, Woodstock Road, Begbroke, Oxfordshire, OX5 1PF, U.K.
T: +44 (0) 1865 856826 ; F: +44 (0) 1865 848684
E: contact@ogt.com ; W: www.ogt.com ; Twitter: @OxfordGeneTech
Notes for editors:
About Oxford Gene Technology
Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) provides world-class genetics research solutions to leading clinical and academic research institutions. Founded by Professor Sir Edwin Southern, and with customers in over 60 countries worldwide, OGT has a strong reputation and increasing share in the large and growing genomic medicine market. The Company’s Cytocell®, CytoSure™ and SureSeq™ range of fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), microarray and next generation sequencing (NGS) products deliver high-quality genetic analysis, enabling accurate identification and confirmation of the causative variation underlying genetic disease. OGT was acquired by Sysmex Corporation (Sysmex), a Japanese in vitro diagnostic company in June 2017. The acquisition of OGT expands Sysmex’s life science business and reinforces its initiatives towards personalised medicine.
For more information on the Company, please visit our website at www.ogt.com
CytoSure™, SureSeq™ and myProbes®: For Research Use Only, not for use in diagnostic procedures. Cytocell: Some products may not be available in your region.
About Sysmex Corporation
Sysmex Corporation is a world leader in clinical laboratory systemisation and solutions, including laboratory diagnostics, laboratory automation and clinical information systems. Serving customers for more than 50 years, Sysmex focuses on technological leadership in diagnostic science and information tools that make a difference in the health of people worldwide. The company is also exploring emerging opportunities in the life science field. Its R&D efforts focus on the development of high-value-added testing and diagnostic technologies that are innovative, original and optimise individual health. Sysmex also seeks to leverage its state-of-the-art technologies for cell, gene and protein analysis. The company, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, has subsidiaries in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China and Asia Pacific and employs more than 8,000 employees worldwide. Sysmex Corporation is listed in the top tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
For more information about Sysmex Corporation and its affiliate companies, please visit www.sysmex.co.jp/en/.
