Selexis SA Opens New World-Class Laboratory Facility And Corporate Headquarters In Geneva, Switzerland

GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Selexis SA, a pioneering life sciences company and a global leader in mammalian (suspension-adapted CHO-K1) cell line generation, announced today the dedication of a new, state-of-the-art laboratory and corporate headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Selexis CEO and Chairman Igor Fisch, PhD, officially introduced the new space to a host of Swiss-based biotech and government dignitaries last night during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event.

“The important work that Selexis is doing right here will help improve the lives of million of people across the globe, and we look forward to their continued success.”

“This move marks a tremendous accomplishment for Selexis, which was founded 15 years ago with a small office in Geneva while the laboratory was based at the University of Lausanne with just one scientist and a seed investment of one hundred thousand Swiss Francs. Now, we have dedicated a new facility worthy of incredible scientists and professionals who occupy it. Our new headquarters reflect our commitment to Geneva and to our status as the world-class leaders (scientific and technology) in the cell line development market as well as in biologic drug discovery,” said Dr. Fisch. “We’re very proud of what we have accomplished here in such a fast-growing Swiss biotech region, and we look forward to contributing further to the economic vitality of the biotech community in Geneva as our technology fosters the advancement of important biologic drugs and vaccines for patients facing diseases as diverse as cancer and HIV.”

The new R&D facility houses Selexis’ proprietary SUREtechnology™ Platform, which facilitates the rapid, stable, and cost-effective generation of cell lines producing virtually any recombinant protein. The platform provides seamless integration of the biologics development continuum, spanning discovery to commercialization. Additionally, the building will serve as headquarters for Selexis’ corporate and scientific leadership teams. The facility, located at Plan les Ouates, a suburb of Geneva, Switzerland, has tripled its capacity to meet partner demands.

“We are proud to see Selexis continuing its rich history of growth and investment in operations here in Geneva. We congratulate Dr. Fisch and his team on their impressive new facility,” said Pierre Maudet, Conseiller d’Etat for Geneva. “The important work that Selexis is doing right here will help improve the lives of million of people across the globe, and we look forward to their continued success.”

In addition to Dr. Fisch and Mr. Maudet, special guests at the ribbon-cutting ceremony included Fabienne Monbaron, Mayor of Plan-les-Ouates, and Dr. Bettina Ernst, a board member of the Swiss Biotech Association.

Today, Selexis has more than 30 employees and 95 partners worldwide. The company’s technology has fostered the advancement of more than 75 biologic drug development programs and three commercially available drugs.

In January of 2015, Selexis reached an important milestone with the approval of the first therapeutic biologic generated on its platform. Since then, Selexis has had several seminal announcements, including:

• The approval of a difficult-to-express protein used to treat an autoimmune disease;
• The approval of a monoclonal antibody used to treat cancer;
• Three service agreements with Sanofi, to develop a cell line for a naked antibody, a new cell line for a bispecific antibody, and a new cell line for the expression of a complex recombinant vaccine protein;
• A collaboration with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) to develop high-performance research cell banks for HIV vaccines; and
• A strategic agreement with Xencor, Inc, which is developing engineered monoclonal antibodies to treat autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergic diseases and cancer.

About Selexis SA

Selexis SA is a pioneering life sciences company and a global leader in mammalian (suspension-adapted CHO-K1) cell line generation, providing unparalleled proprietary technology and the highly specialized expertise that is necessary to translate scientific innovation into life-saving medicines for patients. Selexis’ SUREtechnology Platform™ facilitates the rapid, stable, and cost-effective production of virtually any recombinant protein and provides seamless integration of the bioproduction continuum, spanning discovery to commercialization. With more than 95 partners worldwide, more than 75 biologic drug development programs and three commercial products utilizing its cell lines, Selexis has a history of empowering scientists and biopharmaceutical companies around the world to realize the full potential of their research. More information is available at www.selexis.com.