Heptares Therapeutics (Heptares), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) medicine design and development company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Sosei Group announced its plans to relocate to a new state of the art facility at Granta Park, Cambridge, UK.
The move to new premises follows Heptares’ rapid expansion in recent years and is intended to support the Company’s plans for progressing to market its own products derived from its GPCR drug discovery and development activities, as well as to continue advancing its broad pipeline of projects partnered with leading pharmaceutical companies.
The 35,000 sqft facility will house the company’s UK research and development (R&D) team, with growth of its Zurich operation continuing uninterrupted.
Heptares plans to move to the new facility in the second half of 2018, by which time it expects to employ over 130 highly skilled staff drawn from around the world, focused on discovery and clinical development of novel small molecules and biologics derived from its unique GPCR-focused structure-based drug design platform.
Malcolm Weir, CEO of Heptares and Chief R&D Officer of Sosei Group said “In relocating to Granta Park, Heptares is building a world-leading centre for the design and development of novel medicines targeting GPCRs — the most important family of drug targets in the pharmaceutical industry and the source of more than 40% of approved drugs.
“We have built an exceptional and truly international team in the UK, which has been crucial for our success to date. We anticipate that with enhanced links to the first-class research environment of Cambridge, whilst still maintaining links to the equivalent biomedical centres of excellence in London and Oxford, we can reinforce our world-leading position.”
Heptares’ new facility will be named The Steinmetz Building as a tribute to Michael Steinmetz, who passed away in 2016. Michael, through US venture capital firm Clarus Ventures, was a crucial early investor in Heptares, and made a significant contribution to the development and success of the company in his role as a Board Director between 2007 and 2015.