Alexion Pharmaceuticals has chosen France as the site of its first R&D Center abroad.
Business France congratulates Alexion Pharmaceuticals for choosing France as the site of its first R&D Center for Rare Diseases outside of the U.S. This new center will be focused on research and discovery of innovative treatments for serious rare diseases.
New York, January 25, 2015:
Alexion Pharmaceuticals announced on Thursday, January 22nd, that it has chosen Paris, France as the location for its first R&D site located outside of the U.S. This site will focus on research and discovery of innovative treatments for severe and rare diseases. The “Alexion R&D Center, Paris”, will be located at the Institut Imagine, a translational research institute which performs state-of-the-art research in order to better understand genetic diseases. Alexion has been ranked by Forbes Magazine as the second most innovative company in the world.
Emmanuel Macron, French Minister of Economy, Industry, and Digital Technology congratulated Alexion’s decision and added that “we are happy that Alexion has chosen to set up this research laboratory in France at the Institut Imagine (Paris). This choice confirms the world renowned excellence of French medical research and the attractive environment that France offers to innovative companies.”
For Alexion, France was chosen to host this new site due to the important number of highly qualified researchers in the life sciences as well as a commitment from the French government towards scientific teaching and institutions specialized in Alexion’s core therapeutic segments. Together, Alexion and Institut Imagine will collaborate on their shared goal of advancing medical innovation in rare genetic disease therapies.
“Alexion R&D Center, Paris” will concentrate on the research and development of new therapies that will transform the lives of patients who suffer from devastating rare genetic diseases, as well as invest in research activities focused on discovery, and on bioanalytical and immunogenic research. This center will work on novel research projects focused on developing and delivering life-transforming therapies for patients with severe and life-threatening rare diseases. Patients with these devastating diseases often have no effective treatment options, and they and their families suffer with little hope.
Muriel Penicaud, French Ambassador for International Investment and CEO of Business France, also congratulated Alexion on their announcement this week “We are thrilled to welcome this innovative R&D center to France and to the renowned Institut Imagine. Alexion’s cutting edge research capabilities and important mission of targeting serious and rare genetic diseases is an asset to France. Their choice of France makes a strong statement about our abundance of highly skilled researchers, our demonstrated expertise in the life sciences, and our optimal business climate”. Business France supported Alexion’s team during the site selection process.
About Business France:
Business France was established in January 2015 by the merger of the Invest in France Agency and Ubifrance. Through this merger of two state-owned agencies, the French government intends to increase the number of foreign investments in France, support the development of French companies overseas, and better promote France’s business image. www.businessfrance.fr
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