Akubio’s New Facilities
on Cambridge Science Park Now Fully Commissioned
Cambridge,
United Kingdom, May 7th 2003… Akubio
Ltd, the acoustic detection technology company has announced that its new
premises on the Cambridge Science Park, UK are now fully commissioned
following the completion of its Class 10,000 pilot production facility.
These facilities have custom air handling and dust particle control
systems, necessary for Akubio’s sensitive detection systems.
The
Company moved temporarily to the new facilities in late 2002 and has
occupied the premises progressively as they have been refurbished to its
specification. Comprising 10,300 sq ft of office, laboratory and pilot
production space, the new site will accommodate the Company’s expansion
through to product launch and profitability. Previously, as a spin
out, Akubio had operated from facilities in Cambridge University Chemistry
department.
Commenting
on the new facilities, Dr John Pritchard, CEO said:
“The
Cambridge Science Park is one of the foremost science parks in Europe and
places Akubio at the heart of scientific innovation. Cambridge is the
largest technology cluster in Europe and includes some 1200 companies
employing around 35,000 people. Akubio thus has access to a pool of highly
qualified managers, engineers and scientists from which we can recruit.”
The
move to new facilities was coordinated by Bidwells, Managers of the
Cambridge Science Park, and was supported by the owners of Cambridge
Science Park, Trinity College.
-ends-
Notes
to Editors
Akubio
Ltd was formed
in August 2001 to exploit acoustic detection technology developed at the
University of Cambridge. The
Company has achieved a major breakthrough in molecular detection by
developing acoustic technology that can detect the sounds that molecular
bonds make when they break. This technology has
significant advantages over existing technologies: it
can sensitively, rapidly and economically detect analytes in complex
fluids such as serum without the need for the radio-, enzymatic or
fluorescent labeling of the analyte molecule used currently. It is
applicable to a wide range of markets including human and veterinary
diagnostics, drug discovery, life sciences research, bioterrorism, food
testing and environmental monitoring and in process monitoring of
production processes. To date the Company has raised seed finance of £3.2
million from Abingworth Management Ltd
and the University of Cambridge. Akubio was the first company to receive
funds from the Cambridge University Challenge Fund.
Based in
10,300 sq ft facilities on the Science Park, Cambridge UK, Akubio employs
20 people.
Further
information at www.akubio.co.uk.
Akubio
Ltd
Media Enquiries
Dr
John Pritchard
CEO
Sue Charles, Northbank Communications Ltd
Tel:
+44 (0)1223 225 335
Tel: +44 (0)20 7321 3872
Email:
jpritchard@akubio.com
s.charles@northbankcommunications
